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Keller @ Large: Birthday Assessment Of Obama's Political Standing

BOSTON (CBS) - President Obama celebrated a milestone birthday Wednesday. He was in Chicago for his 50th and raising money for his re-election campaign.

There's plenty of evidence that may be an uphill battle for Mr. Obama.

The economy is struggling, and his poll numbers have never been lower.

Jon Keller Is At Large

Mr. Obama's anemic 40 percent approval rating is substantially better than the low point of the last two presidents to be denied a second term.

Jimmy Carter was approved of by a mere 28 percent of voters the summer before his failed 1980 re-election bid.

George H. W. Bush hit his 29 percent low-water mark just three months before Election Day, horrible timing.

The bottom line?

If the economy looks better to Americans by November 2012, then Obama has a reasonable shot at a second term.

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