Obama Reduced To Lame Duck President As Republicans Sweep The Senate Polls: Democrats Lose Most Strongholds
In a huge set back to President Barrack Obama, the U.S midterm elections on Tuesday, gave a resurrection of sorts to rival Republicans and gave them a majority in the Senate ever since 2007. The President's Democratic party faced massive defeat all across the country. The poll results reduced Mr. Obama's position to that of a lame duck president. With the control of Senate, now moving into the hands of Republicans, President Obama will face an uncomfortable tenure by having to contend with a rival dominated Congress, in the remaining two years in office.
Anti-Obama Wave
The Washington Post reported that the outcome of the polls are a repudiation of the president, who came to power in 2008 offering change and was re-elected on the same plank in 2012. But the second term proved really bad for Obama as economic issues and a series of crises abroad, including ISIS to Ebola outbreak, diminished his public rating in the United States. In their campaign, Republicans targeted Obama for all the ills faced by the United States.
The Telegraph reported the huge drubbing faced by Democrats, which was more than they expected. The President's party faced humiliating losses in North Carolina, Colorado and Iowa, the states, which were in the frontline to propel Obama to the White House in 2008. Even in Obama's home state of Illinois, the Democrat governor was voted out and replaced with a Republican. Opinion polls had said almost 54 percent of the voters were disenchanted with what Obama was doing as President, according to a CNN exit poll.
Obama Agenda
Reacting to the poll results, President Barack Obama said he is ready to work with Republican lawmakers. At the same time, Mr. Obama made it clear that there would be no compromise on his core agenda, and he will go ahead with his action on immigration reform. Obama also refused to accept direct responsibility for the defeat, as a repudiation of his policies. Obama quipped it was "a good night" for Republicans, reported AFP.
Despite the President's willingness to cooperate, many U.S. watchers believe that post-election cooperation will be a chimera. It was evident from the reaction of a Republican Senator. "Under Mitch McConnell's leadership we will send the President bill after bill, until he wears out," said Rand Paul, a possible contender for presidency. Both parties are bracing for the battle of Presidency in 2016. Until then, the confrontationist course is likely to continue.
Maybe the first battle between Mr. Obama and Republican lawmakers will be on the proposed amnesty to illegal immigrants, to guide them towards American citizenship. While Republicans call it "illegal amnesty" Obama and his party describe it as natural justice.