No incumbent has ever been re - elected with margins this large . Just as critical , if not more so , is the Obama tactical imperative of using the convention to re-energize his 2008 base . Among Obama 's advantages : jobs , more room for growth , etc . Independents and conservative Democrats in swing states are key targets . Economic data make it hard to make case that Americans are better off than 20 years ago .
No incumbent has ever been re - elected with margins this large . Among Obama 's advantages : jobs , more room for growth , etc . Independents and conservative Democrats in swing states are key targets . Economic data make it hard to make case that Americans are better off than 20 years ago .