Obama is still in a hole. It may yet be deeper than his Republican rivals'

"The trouble is, it's easier to see how things get tougher for Obama – petrol prices, a eurozone collapse, Iran – than for Romney over the next eight months. Soon Romney will be the nominee, Santorum and Newt Gingrich will be his loyal advocates (who knows what Ron Paul will do?) and the white evangelicals and Tea Party types will find motivation in their Obamaphobia. This may well be the worst it gets for Romney and, in national polls, he still only loses to Obama by just beyond the margin of error.
Data isn't destiny and polls aren't elections. Republicans are doing their best to give Obama the weak opponent he needs and, on that count, Romney has been obliging. Low turnout in these primaries indicates Republicans also have an enthusiasm problem, and with every primary their internal dysfunction becomes more apparent.
All the more reason not to underestimate their potential and potency. The next time a Republican says something ridiculous about contraception, jihadist training camps in South America or how their wife has two Cadillacs, remember: that could be the next president you're laughing at."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/mar/11/obama-republican-rivals-mitt-romney