Voters ponder "Will you still love me tomorrow?"

Voters are drawn to candidates that like them. The inability to communicate that affection and fashion such bonds derailed the ultimate political ambitions of Dukakis, Kerry, Gore, Stevenson and Goldwater (probably Dole to a lesser extent). Cold indifference to the people short-circuited the legacy oriented aspirations of Johnson and Nixon.

President Obama succeeded in forging such bonds with the voters during the campaign. Like Kennedy, Reagan and Clinton he sold an appealing message. He encouraged voters to be part of something historic, to validate their desire to contribute through politics and to make a difference. Kennedy and Reagan thought highly of America and Americans and valued and encouraged the contributions of the electorate. Clinton probably viewed electoral politics largely as a referendum on his person, but he clearly viewed government as a vehicle for good.

What happened between Obama and the voters? His supporters seem more handcuffed to Obama than hand-holding. The phenomenon is hard to explain, like the Hollywood marriages that last seven months. How much can go wrong in seven months or in twenty-one months? Not that much really. Obamacare, the stimulus, the deficit and the tax policy proposals are problems, but hardly insurmountable for liberals to reconcile. The erosion of support for the president is more personal than political. Like the seven month marriages, the cracks trace back to the courtship.

Obama's America is country of villains that needs a sheriff to police it. America is Tombstone and he is Wyatt Earp. The Obama supporters have come to see their contribution was limited to putting the sheriff in office. During the courtship, it was nice that you all hated the same folks. But now it seems, that he never really liked your sister either. He doesn't find much appealing about the neighbors or your boss and as it turns out, he is not being well-served by some of his supporters either. It just might turn out that your most appealing virtue was your admiration for him.

We have only tried to divorce presidents twice mid-term. We almost always take our differences up with their colleagues. That is what is occurring now. The policy discussions that were so unceremoniously side-stepped in the past two years are taking place there.

But the problem for Obama and for us doesn't abate with a Republican sweep. Chances are the partisan divide opens like the Grand Canyon. The last two years of the Obama presidency will be an endless series of vetoes. The president's recent comment that "the Republicans are welcome to ride the bus but they will have to sit in the back" is not too encouraging. Next year, Republicans may be driving the bus. All the president will be able to do is issue a rhetorical ticket.

I wrote in "America's assistant principal" that president doesn't seem to like many of us; his job would be easier if he did. There is no denying the president's political skill. If this election is going to produce more than an uncomfortable two year impasse, the president will have to put those skills to good use.

President Obama should smooth things over with the ruffled in his own party first. But he needs to reach out to the business community, the Tea Party types, the pro-life folks, Fox News, those with illegal immigration concerns and the apolitical. America is not a problem to be solved. Barack Obama has the skills to be a leader and leadership is needed now. The jury is still out on whether he will.