it's getting better

Practically every indicator says that things are "getting better" in the US economy.  Unemployment is down to less than when Obama took office; housing starts are way up; consumer confidence way up; retail sales up; report after report shows things improving.  Even gas prices are dropping (again).  

I don't think that Americans expected Obama to immediately turn the economy around, even if he has.  When he was sworn in, we lost 750,000 jobs in January of 2009.  Job losses continued until the stimulus program was passed and there has been job growth every single month since.  

No, I don't think Americans still think that the economy is in the dumper, which is where George W. Bush and the Republicans put it.  I think that just about half the country is Republican, period, and they aren't going to vote for a Democrat, especially a black Democrat.  

Unless the Republicans try to steal the election with their usual tricks, like voter suppression, inadequate voting machines in Democratic precincts and switching the votes on electronic voting machines, Obama should win re-election.  

Shoot, just look at the state of the economy when Bush left office, and look at it now.  'Nuff said.