“Just a hunch but could this be a prelude to Obama NOT seeking reelection in 2012? The Dems have realized that he is unelectable and they will lose BIG if he is the nominee.”
You may be right. I am of the opinion that he will run again and be the nominee again, but if he was going to bow out, “spending more time with family” seems to be the preferred euphemism for “recognizing that the career is flaming wreckage.”