Can Obama Rebuild His Grass Roots Army?

As a number of media outlets are reporting, including the Virginian Pilot, Barack Obama is endeavoring to rebuild his effective grass roots organization across the USA. To be, the biggest obstacle Obama faces is himself. In 2008, Obama found support from many who were disillusioned and longed for an innovative leader. What we got instead was a man who generally refuses to lead waiting instead for others to make faltering efforts to lead the path to "change." Yes, Obama has ushered in some change, but in my mind, so much more could have been done if we had seen real leadership from the White House. I continue to believe the funk that many Democrats felt in 2009 when little seemed to have been accomplished set the stage for the GOP sweep in Virginia. True, Creigh Deeds was a terrible and uninspiring candidate for the Democrat standard bearer, but the bigger problem was a sense of what does it matter - we handed Obama control of the Congress and the White House and things still failed to happen. Here are highlights from the Virginian Pilot on this issue:
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[T]he president's backers are trying to take advantage of a head start over the still-forming Republican field and the benefits of incumbency to rebuild a grassroots effort that mobilized millions of voters in 2008. Obama's campaign has pledged to reach out to every voter it was in contact with during his first run . . .
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Without having to focus on a primary opponent, Obama's campaign also is spending much of its time and money trying to build foundations of support early in battleground states like Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Ohio that backed Obama last time but have since elected Republican governors, weakening state Democratic Party operations.
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Republicans question whether Obama's grassroots operation will be as formidable this time. "In 2008 they were able to create an organizational juggernaut because people were inspired by the Obama candidacy. But I think when you look at his record going into 2012, especially with independents, there may be less inspiration, which makes the organizing more difficult," said Republican strategist Jim Dyke, a veteran of presidential politics.
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But Democrats say recent battles over labor unions and state budgets in Ohio and Wisconsin, where Republican Gov. Scott Walker has sought to curtail collective-bargaining rights for public employees, has energized its voters and could help them next year.
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"The Democratic base, which may have been lukewarm about the president ... is now fired up," said Rendell, the former Pennsylvania governor. He said several Rust Belt states "have seen this incredible reversal of Republican fortunes in 2011 because of the mistakes and wrongheaded policies." Overtly or not, it's a message Obama backers are sending as they encourage others to join their ranks.
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If a past supporter responded negatively, the caller asked if there was "something holding you back," and noted whether it pertained to issues such as education, the environment, foreign policy, health care or jobs.
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Again, for me, my biggest reservation is Obama's refusal to be a leader and his refusal to use the office of the presidency as a pulpit from which he can take on GOP lies and untruths. If the GOP can manage to nominate a decent candidate - a huge if - Obama could be in trouble. And it will be of his own making.