It's the economy

But the politics will be intertwined inextricably.

ON Dec 20, President Barack Obama called for a press conference at the White House Briefing Room at four hours’ notice. He clearly wanted to end the year and look forward to the next on a high note: Numbers showing US economic growth of 4.1% in the third quarter; two million new jobs created in the past year, bringing the jobless rate down to 7% (a five-year low, the length of time Obama has been president); high level of domestic oil and gas production ending import dependency.