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Barack Obama Check out the latest NPR coverage of President Obama's bid for re-election in 2012.
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Barack Obama

Check out the latest NPR coverage of President Obama's bid for re-election in 2012.

Wednesday

Monday

Obama Bus Tour Rides Rough Political Terrain In N.C.

President Obama holds up his jobs bill as he speaks at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., on Sept. 14. The president returns to North Carolina on Monday to drum up support for his proposals and for his re-election campaign.

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Gerry Broome/AP

Obama Bus Tour Rides Rough Political Terrain In N.C.

WFAE

The president won the state by a narrow margin in 2008. His fall in support among independents in North Carolina means Obama now faces a struggle to stay competitive for 2012. His problem in the state is the same one he faces everywhere: unemployment.

Obama Bus Tour Rides Rough Political Terrain In N.C.

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Thursday

Friday

Will The 'Yes We Can' Man Get Canned?

Obama is surrounded by former presidents in the Oval Office in 2009. Two of his predecessors — George W. Bush and Bill Clinton — won two terms, while two others — George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter — left office after just one.

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Will The 'Yes We Can' Man Get Canned?

There is in the American air — some 13 months away from the 2012 election — a whiff of suggestion that Obama might not be re-elected. Or re-electable. Past presidents have weathered stormier times, but when you hit bottom matters.

Tuesday

Monday

Friday

As Election Looms, Obama Seeks To Rouse His Base

Then-Sen. Barack Obama drew enthusiastic crowds at a rally in Columbus, Ohio, just days before the 2008 election. Now, after a few rocky moments with the coalition that helped send him to the White House, and with a re-election battle looming, Obama is trying to re-energize his supporters. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

As Election Looms, Obama Seeks To Rouse His Base

In recent days, President Obama has reached out to black and Latino voters. On Saturday, he'll speak to the nation's largest gay rights group, part of an effort to re-energize the coalition that helped send him to the White House. But his governing has left some of his early supporters disappointed.

As Election Looms, Obama Seeks To Rouse His Base

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Tuesday

With Leadership Questioned, Obama Gets In The Fray

President Obama speaks in the Rose Garden at the White House on Monday. Obama laid out a plan for trillions in deficit cuts but warned Republicans he will veto any bill that makes structural changes to Medicare unless they agree to additional revenues. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

With Leadership Questioned, Obama Gets In The Fray

When President Obama laid out his deficit reduction plan, he made it clear he has given up on his so far fruitless search for common ground with the Republicans. With independents and some Democrats doubting his leadership skills, he has been taking a tougher line.

With Leadership Questioned, Obama Gets In The Fray

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Friday

N.Y. Special Election Shows Obama's Trials To Come

A crowd cheers as Republican Bob Turner appears on stage during an election night party on Tuesday in New York. The traditionally Democratic and Jewish district elected Turner, revealing the problems Obama may have with political strongholds in the 2012 election. Mary Altaffer/AP hide caption

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Mary Altaffer/AP

N.Y. Special Election Shows Obama's Trials To Come

The heavily Jewish and Democratic 9th district voted Republican, reflecting the president's weakening support. Some analysts attribute the loss to the conservative Jewish community's distrust of Obama's stance on Israel, while others point to polls that say the economy was a more significant factor.

N.Y. Special Election Shows Obama's Trials To Come

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Wednesday

Traveling, Obama Gets Mixed Reaction Over Jobs

President Obama speaks Wednesday at North Carolina State University in Raleigh about the American Jobs Act. Gerry Broome/AP hide caption

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Gerry Broome/AP

Traveling, Obama Gets Mixed Reaction Over Jobs

President Obama is crisscrossing the country to sell his jobs plan. Poll numbers show narrow support for the proposal — but also widespread dissatisfaction over the president's handling of the economy. In Ohio, voters are divided over whether Congress should pass it.

Traveling, Obama Gets Mixed Reaction Over Jobs

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Friday

Comparing Job Plans: No Shortage Of Ideas

A giant sign reading "jobs" hangs outside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce building in Washington, D.C. Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images

Economy

Comparing Job Plans: No Shortage Of Ideas

In the 2012 election cycle, "Job No. 1" for any political candidate will be to lay out persuasive plans for generating more middle-income jobs. Read a summary of proposals by President Obama, some of his Republican challengers, U.S. businesses groups and labor organizations.

Did Obama's Jobs Speech Seize The 'Big Moment'?

President Obama mingled with guests and lawmakers after his speech to a joint session of Congress on Thursday at the Capitol. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption

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Charles Dharapak/AP

It's All Politics

Did Obama's Jobs Speech Seize The 'Big Moment'?

The president had a lot riding on Thursday's address before Congress — a speech pivotal to his efforts to win re-election next year. Two political media experts play Friday morning quarterback, rating how Obama did in terms of raw performance.

Thursday

Thursday

It's All Politics

Obama's New, More Lenient Deportation Policy Could Cut Both Ways Politically

A cynical observer might view as a bid for Hispanic votes the Obama Administration's new policy to review as many as 300,000 illegal immigration cases to focus more on deporting criminals than undocumented individuals who pose little to no risk to society.The decision would use some of the criteria of the DREAM Act, which failed to get through Congress, to show leniency to young people, especially students and military veterans brought illegally to the U.S. as small children by their undocumented immigrant parents.