In Portland last week, Mr. Obama spoke of the fatigue and frustration that many of his supporters have felt and that the pursuit of change can bring…

“All that hope that we felt when we had that 70,000-person rally in Portland on that beautiful day,” Mr. Obama said, pausing for applause. “Sometimes,” Mr. Obama said, “that fades.”…

The loftiness of “Yes we can” has been obscured by the governing realities of “It’s hard.” Obama-mania circa 2010 better resembles a “keep the faith” pep talk from a graying coach than any call to action from a fresh-faced savior. Introducing Mr. Obama on Friday in Los Angeles, the actor Jamie Foxx even led the crowd in a chant of, “We are not exhausted,” a backhanded rally cry if there ever was one.