problem is, that is the only thing they think they could possibly spin enough as a positive. Much like their failed attempt to accuse the Chamber of Commerce of using foreign money during the 2010 campaign. When your side has nothing to run on, grasping at straws is all you have. In this case, they think they can keep the union peeps on the reservation by touting a union handout.
Obama’s probably going to try and play the “don’t change horses in the middle of a race” next year (assuming we have elections, of course), trying to say that as bad as things have been under him, they’ll be worse if another party gets elected (we’ll probably hear Bush brought up again).
When you don’t have any accomplishments to run on, the only thing left is to try and paint your opponents as worse.