Taking a leaf from Reagan, Obama is asking Americans ahead of congressional elections in November if they were better now off than four years ago. However, the message is not resonating, especially with data showing median annual household incomes fell by more than US$2,100 in inflation-adjusted terms between 2009 and 2013 - AFP Photo (file photo).
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama, stumping for the Democrats ahead of November's congressional elections, has twice invoked Ronald Reagan's seminal campaign question: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"
Framing the debate like that helped Reagan twice – in 1980 when he beat incumbent Jimmy Carter, and then again in 1984 when he won re-election during an economic upswing.
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