Early Wakeup Call for Obama

Edward Kennedy is turning over in his grave. The Senate seat he filled so abundantly for 40 years is now occupied by a former beefcake model and a Republican no less. Scott Brown, the new senator from Massachusetts, is a relative political unknown, who covered up his republicanism in independent trappings to win in a state that has traditionally been a Democratic Party stronghold.

How did things go so wrong, so quickly for the Democrats? Just one year into the "presidency of hope," Barack Obama is facing a revolt of the very independent voters who swept him into the White House. Those voters expressed their anger and frustration in Massachusetts and their voice has been heard by Obama strategists, who want to avoid a disaster in this year's mid-term elections. They realize that Brown's election was not about Democrats vs. Republicans in the traditional sense. It was about jobs, jobs and more jobs, as well as the perception that Obama's administration is driving us all deeper into debt.

This early wake up call has already shifted the emphasis of the administration's message. All the President's Men are talking about the stimulus having created or saved some 2 million jobs. We'll hear more about that, fiscal responsibility and taking on special interests in the State of the Union message tomorrow night. We can also expect to hear the words "cooperation" and "collaboration" in regard to health care reform.

The following day, the President and Vice President Joe Biden are scheduled to appear in Tampa, Florida, hopefully to announce federal support for a fast rail project that promises to bring much-needed jobs and economic activity to the state. Florida was critical to Obama's win in 2008 and it has suffered more than most states in the recession. Unemployment is more than 11 percent, substantially higher than the national average.

"There are few places that have been hit as hard by job losses as Florida, and I think you'll see him (Obama) talk about his plans for getting the economy going again," says Steve Schale, a Democratic strategist who helped Obama win in Florida.

Certainly, everyone in the Sunshine State will be hanging on the President's words and deeds in days to come.

And, That's That...