Conversation Nation: Poll Shows Obama Supporters May Defect

This weekend Governor Deval Patrick called President Obama "the leader of the most optimistic nation in human history."

But that optimism, very evident two years ago, now appears to be waning. A new poll shows that 25% of the those who supported candidate Obama in 2008 are defecting to the GOP. And just half of the voters who backed him then may not go to the polls at all on November 2nd.

The president and the first lady hit the road this week, visiting seven key states to support Democratic candidates in the mid-term election. But many political analysts say some candidates don't want the president's endorsement and consider a visit by him to be a liability

Why do you think so many formerly enthusiastic Obama supporters are now apparently abandoning him? Will his lack of popularity hurt other Democrats at the polls?