GOP in Michigan

Michigan will be one of thirteen states which will have, in the coming months, ads attacking President Barack Obama's handling of the economy. The plan has set off the expected saber rattling, as Republicans look to hurt Mr. Obama where he did well in 2008 while Democrats seek to argue that the Republicans aren't playing fair on the issue.

That being said, it is important that the Republican National Committee has selected Michigan as one of the battleground states. The President won handily three years ago, but the state has experienced a Republican resurgence since, taking the entire legislative branch as well as the governorship. Neither the White House nor the Democratic leadership should expect a particularly easy time here in 2012.

The President needs the rust belt states if he is to earn a second term. Michigan and the rest of the old industrial states are where the core, old line Democrats have traditionally been strong. They can attempt to blame GOP policies from several years back if they insist, but the question becomes: will the voting public buy it?

In the light of 2010 bi-elections, the answer seems to be no. You simply cannot continue to blame people who have been gone for years for troubles of your own making. Mr. Obama has allowed spending to soar, and without helping the economy one whit. If the Democrats and the President refuse to lean a lesson, they shall soon realize that the voters do take their lessons well, and will cast their ballots accordingly.