Sabato: ‘Magic of ’08 Gone’ for Obama

President Barack Obama launched his re-election campaign Monday with a web video. Influential University of Virginia politics professor Larry Sabato wasn’t impressed.

“As usual, it will be the shape of the economy, war and peace, and other big issues that will determine whether President Obama is re-elected — certainly not that bland bit of video released this morning,” he wrote on Politico. “It’s nothing more than a tacit acknowledgment that the magic of ’08 is gone. Even the true Obama believers need to be energized.”

Given that everyone already knew Obama is going to run again, the announcement will have little impact, Sabato argues. “Everything a president does is assumed to be inherently political anyway.”

Meanwhile, “The Republicans need to concentrate on making sure they select a respectable nominee,” he says.