This upsurge in social issues that fire up his base could not come at a better time for Obama. As The New York Times reported this weekend, Obama’s advantage over Republicans on economic issues has completely evaporated in the first three months of his second term. Obama’s approval ratings have also steadily declined and, according Pew, Obama’s second term trajectory is currently much closer to that of President Bush than that of President Clinton.

Unless the economy becomes much stronger, expect many more social-issue themed speeches and campaigns like this one from the White House.