Eh, who knows. His approval rating is right at 50% according to this article:
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01...y6113290.shtml
It's interesting to look at the numbers of past Presidents one year in. Look at W- 82%. Sure did erode in a big way after that. Look at Reagan- 49%. He sure did pick it up, and didn't do it by running to the middle.
It's tough to say. I really do think a good deal rides on Health Care. If they get it done his numbers will get better. The right wing guys sure spent a lot of rhetoric on this. No way it can be as bad as they said it would. After that, it's really all about the economy. If things start picking up he's golden, just like Reagan. He'll say "look, it's working!" and he'll be able to move his agenda forward.
But I think you're quite wrong. He's closer to center than W was. Certainly closer to center than Reagan was. You're taking the talk show guys too seriously. What exactly is it that you think makes him so left? Health care reform? Nixon tried to do it and his plan was much more liberal. He's been very cautious on everything else. Can't call that Afghanistan plan liberal. Can't call the tax cuts liberal either. He's playing pretty well down the middle near as I can tell. And no hate filled rhetoric against gays or immigrants like we've seen from the right in recent years.
No, I think Obama will be just fine. I don't think he'll move at all because there is nowhere *to* move unless he becomes a Republican. Shoot, he hasn't done much that a Republican President hasn't already done or tried to do in the past.