Obama's deficit bargain lost out to 2012 politics

As late as last week, President Barack Obama was still calling for one, broad debt agreement that included cuts, entitlements and taxes. That’s not what will go before Congress this week, and Obama’s strategic positioning contributed to the missed opportunity for a potentially historic bipartisan deal, said Democrats, retired lawmakers and former White House advisers with experience in bipartisan negotiations.

Obama came months late to the negotiations, allowed 2012 election concerns to shape his timing and willingness to advocate Social Security and Medicare reductions, and undermined his position by shifting his priorities, they said.