Obama 2nd term: Leverage, lessons learned, legacy

Associated Press

BEN FELLER, AP White House Correspondent

Updated: Nov 1, 2012 4:15 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — If he won again, President Barack Obama would govern with a window of leverage, an eye on his legacy and the luxury of lessons learned.

He would start this time without a recession and wars in two countries. That means he would be freer to pursue the agenda he wants for a lasting economic rebound.

Yet the forces working against him would not be going anywhere: formidable opposition from Republicans, fatigue within the White House and fractured politics.

A second four years would really give Obama less than two years to swing for big change at home. Then lame-duck realities set in.

His personal style is unlikely to differ.

What he does hope to change is the way in which he pulls the American people into his personal political process.

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