Obama’s strategy taking shape

[Obama strategy]

* Obama may be angling to call Republicans’ bluff

* Both sides need to show progress

* Republicans sense gains in November elections

US: US President Barack Obama’s campaign strategy for Democrats in the November elections is taking shape appeal to Republicans to make compromises and if they do not, accuse them of obstruction.

Obama is basically angling to call the bluff of Republicans who he believes have done nothing but stand in opposition to his proposals on revamping the U.S. healthcare system and stimulating the economy.

It is a strategy he is outlining in town-hall meetings and most recently at Democratic fund-raising events he held last week, as he seeks to regain his political footing after Democrats lost their 60-vote supermajority in the Senate.

“I told my Republican friends I want to work together with them where I can and I meant it,” Obama said at a Democratic event on Thursday. “And I told them I will also call them out if they say they want to work on something then when I offer a hand, I get nothing in return.”

By the same token, Republicans are expressing a willingness to work with Obama up to a point and are interested to see if he really is willing to agree to some of their priorities.

Sensing they stand to make big gains in congressional elections in November, they are in no mood to agree to anything that would raise taxes or increase government spending and budget deficits.

Washington, Sunday, Reuters