By Alexander Bolton,The Hill
The Bride's appeal has faded in only a month
President Obama’s honeymoon is beginning to fade.
Members of Congress and old political hands say he needs to show substantial progress reviving the economy soon.
Some Democrats have started to worry that voters don’t and won’t understand the link between economic revival and Obama’s huge agenda,which includes saving the banking industry,ending home foreclosures,reforming healthcare and developing a national energy policy,among much else.
While lawmakers debate controversial proposals contained in the new president’s debut budget — cutting farm subsidies,raising taxes on charitable contributions,etc. — there is a growing sense that time is running out faster than expected.
Democrats from states racked by recession say Obama needs to produce an uptick by August or face unpleasant consequences. Others say that there is more time,but that voters need to see improvement by the middle of next year.
The most optimistic say Obama and Democrats in Congress will face a political backlash unless the economy improves by Election Day 2010.