A Pew Research study shows that President Barack Obama has had very high levels of criticism in press coverage, but still retains a high personal likeability rating.
It is nothing new for Presidents to be bitterly attacked in the news media, particularly during a re-election campaign, but that does not necessarily lead to it having an effect on the presidential election.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was castigated and condemned, and still he won easy re-election victories.
The same occurred with Harry Truman, and he shocked everyone by winning re-election in 1948!
Bill Clinton came under constant fire in 1996, and George W. Bush in 2004, and yet they both won a second term.
As long as Obama has a high likeability rating, it will be difficult for any opponent to defeat him, no matter how the economy is used as an issue.
The question is whether the Republicans find a candidate who will be seen as much likeable as Barack Obama! Don’t bet on it!