Dem leader Clyburn predicts Obama will win reelection in 2012

A senior House Democrat is predicting President Obama will win reelection next year despite the struggling economy and his low approval ratings. 

“Yes [Obama will win reelection],” Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.), the assistant House Democratic leader, said in an interview with The Root published on Tuesday.  

Clyburn pointed to polls that show the president “wiping” Rick Perry out and defeating Herman Cain and Mitt Romney, who are seen as the three leading GOP presidential contenders. 

Clyburn also noted that there is plenty of time to go before Election Day 2012, and that other presidents have mounted comebacks. 

“We’re 13 months out,” said Clyburn. “I remember 13 months out when Bill Clinton was the incumbent. He was losing to Bob Dole or to anybody the Republicans put up.”

The senior Democrat also emphasized the importance of a decisive victory for both Obama and House Democrats in order to break what he called “filibustering” of the progressive agenda.

“We’ve got to have a definitive election,” said Clyburn, who served as the House majority whip when Democrats were in power.   

“The president has got to get reelected in a very definitive way — all that goes away.”