Obama and his campaign staff (Axelrod etc) have been masterful campaigners. Came out of nowhere to beat the Bill&Hill Clinton machine. Won by waging guerrilla warfare in the caucus states and smaller states
But that is in the past, Obama had an awful summer starting with his Europe/Iraq/Afghanistan tour.
It would be more accurate to say Obama&staff have been stepping in it lately. With the pick of “plugs” Biden exemplifying the down trend
I would consider the primary campaign team requiring replacement given their performance to date since he’s “wrapped” up the primary season. I don’t think they have figured out how to appeal to a non-kool-aid drinking electorate. They have to sell their man’s ideas now, not his image. And the general electorate will require ideas with flesh.
JohnMc has been in general election mode much longer than Obama. Obama’s campaign is stuck with a good primary candidate that has had a difficult time speaking with a general election audience thus far, and he has much less experience doing so.