David Gergen actually said...

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

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

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.

I think it was a definite lift for the Jones forces when he came out.