I agree with you that this was by design. For a 40+ something guy with little real political experience, he sure is shrewd. He is getting coaching from somebody or some body of people.
I believe that Obama wants the Republicans to win the House and/or the Senate in 2010.
I doubt that he wants the Republicans to win. I would suggest that he has been coached on how to handle the situation should they win. His political strategies for the next several months will probably be made with the assumption that the Republicans will at least control the house.
ITA with this assertion. No matter what happens, B.O. and the state-run media will use any excuse they have to paint themselves as the heroes.