Obama Strategy: Share Credit (and Blame?)

As they prepare to wage political war against President Obama, the potential 2012 Republican candidates are doing everything they can to draw sharp distinctions with him. But Mr. Obama isn’t cooperating. Rather than emphasize his differences with potential Oval Office rivals or Republican adversaries on Capitol Hill, the president is taking every opportunity he can to embrace members of the other party as co-conspirators in his efforts to confront the country’s challenges. The logic behind Mr. Obama’s approach appears to be rooted in the belief that voters — and especially independents — are looking for evidence that politicians in Washington are working together on problems rather than content to live with an unending stalemate.

He might as well try and control the spin. It helps counter the Republican effort to draw sharp contrasts with him.

In addition to appealing to some voters, the bipartisan rhetoric from Mr. Obama may be an attempt to disarm his potential 2012 rivals and Republicans on Capitol Hill. In Miami this month, Mr. Obama stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, to promote education reforms.

Hanging out with Jeb was interesting. Countering Romney's criticisms by reminding voters that Obamacare is based on Romneycare is political common sense. Remaining above the fray will make him appear presidential; the Rose Garden strategy is a time-honored tradition that works. Until the heat of the election.