National Journalreports this morning that, as far as political developments are concerned, the final week of the 2012 election cycle has been awfully good for the incumbent.
Friday's employment report brought more good news to President Obama in what has already been a solid final week of campaigning for the incumbent.
Earlier this week, Obama was praised by New Jersey's outspoken -- and Republican -- Gov. Chris Christie for his handling of the recovery from Hurricane Sandy after it ravaged parts of the East Coast. He also got a surprise endorsement from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. On Friday, the final major piece of economic data released during the campaign showed signs that the economy was moving forward rather than retreating.
It's not the sort of week a president can plan for, exactly. Indeed, if you look at all of the positive developments, each one was something Obama had very little control over -- bipartisan praise for crisis management; unexpected endorsement from one the nation's highest-profile independents; stronger-than-expected job creation; and an opponent dogged by reports he shamelessly lied about Jeep production.
Plouffe and Axelrod couldn't have written this script, but all things being equal, I suspect they're pleased the final full week of the race is playing out this way.
Ezra Klein added, "The result of all this is that the Obama campaign -- and their turnout operation -- heads into election day buoyed by good news, good headlines, and good luck.... Both campaigns have had their good weeks and their bad weeks, of course, but in a race that's this close, having the final good week of the campaign might actually matter."
