Rangel: Obama's Move to Center Will Save Him

Some experts say President Barack Obama’s willingness to compromise with Republicans during the lame-duck congressional session, particularly over tax cuts, will spark a primary challenge against him from the left in 2012. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., disagrees, The Hill reports.

He thinks the lame-duck activity will circumvent a primary fight for the president.

"I think he has rehabilitated," the 20-term congressman tells MSNBC. "This is a different president after the lame-duck." Rangel’s views are backed up by a new CNN/Opinion Research poll showing that 78 percent of Democrats support Obama's re-nomination.

To be sure, Rangel, who was just censured by the House for ethics violations, says Obama isn’t home free yet. "He hasn't" fixed all his problems,” Rangel acknowledges. "But he is much stronger than we thought he was."