POLITICO

President Obama looks to tap populist anger

By JOSH GERSTEIN & VICTORIA MCGRANE
1/19/10 4:56 AM EST

Some Democrats just wanted the president to get mad.

But through it all – a global meltdown, 10 percent unemployment, mega-buck bonuses – President Barack Obama resisted feeding the wave of populist anger sweeping the nation.

Now, with the mood in the country souring against Democrats, Obama is picking up his pitchfork — trying to harness that popular angst and turn it to the Democrats’ political advantage.

Already some strategists are asking, “What took you so long?â€