Things will not be significantly better a year from now. Therefore, Obama will have no choice but to (i) run against the House and the Tea Party conservatives in it, claiming that they failed to adopt the new spending he is about to propose, and (ii) try to cause the electorate to fear the “extreme” Republican candidate, claiming that he or she will starve Granny, outlaw abortion, rape the environment, gut the public schools, and outlaw public and private unions. Even a Romney or a Huntsman would not be immune from these claims. This approach will fail, and Obama will be defeated.
You are exactly right but there is one more, deeply insidious tactic the Dems will employ; the fear of riots if Obama is defeated. White liberals will wonder if it's possible (knowing full well they're trying to raise the fear level of middle America), while Blacks will flat out say it will happen.
Keep your powder dry folks, it's gonna be a bumpy year.
Kharis13