David Gergen actually said...

It's unique as far as I can tell -- no American history.

None of that. So in effect, the elections coming up are much more vulnerable than they would be otherwise.

The president, because of his personal insecurities, does not wanting to have his election diminished, discredited in some way.

He needs a change of strategy. He needs a strategy. And he cannot... unless he changes or adopts a strategy which goes beyond his base.