The Fast Fix: Can Obama keep the presidency?

President Obama will have a tough time in the 2012 election with the country's economic problems looming overhead.

Dark clouds have been gathering around President Obama for months now as the still struggling economy threatens to imperil his chances at winning a second term next year.

But, there's evidence that a silver lining might be emerging for the president in the form on the jobs plan he introduced last week.

A Gallup poll released this week showed 45 percent of people support the jobs act while 32 percent oppose it. A CNN survey pegged support at 43 percent and opposition at 38 percent.

Those aren't exactly sky-high numbers but for a president who hasn't been on the right side of 50 percent in terms of job approval in months, it's welcome news.

Of course, Obama hasn't even formally submitted the bill to Congress. Which means that the fight for public perception about it is in its infant stages. And, as we know from the health care legislation, sometimes bills that start out popular wind up significantly less so.

Still the public's initial optimism about the legislation gives President Obama an opening to take the fight to Republicans in Congress, urging them to pass something that average people want. Obama has been doing just that in recent days with trips to swing states like Ohio and North California.

For a White House that been playing defense, the jobs bill is a chance to go back on offense. And we all know the best defense is a good offense.

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