Thursday, January 9th, 2014 09:04:21

2014 Political Battle Lines

The discord between Democrats and Republicans regarding the three-month extension of unemployment benefits will be used by the Democrats for political fodder against the Republicans, if Republicans let them.

The mid-term elections during a president’s second term tend to be tough on the president’s party. Additionally, Obama’s approval rating tanked in December to 40 percent as the rollout of his signature health plan foundered. With the recent passage of a bipartisan budget bill, the need for a diversion — a new target to focus political operatives and therefore voters — is key.