Every media source is talking about how Obama is pissing on the base at every chance he can get. Whether or not that is true is another issue, but the point is what the result is. Bloggers and "professional leftists" are having fits, and saying that Obama is screwed because the liberals are abandoning him. They say that if only he (insert policy of your choice), he would be more popular.
But here's the thing: Rank-and-file Democrats are happy with him. VERY happy, that is.
Primaries are conducted only among the party faithful. Nonpartisans may participate in some states, but they are almost never enough to change a nationwide result. Democrats decide on their nominee. And right now, they want Obama.
According to Gallup, Obama's approval has been hovering around 45% nationwide. But that includes Republicans and Independents. Take them out, and Obama is extremely popular. He has 80% approval from Democrats. Even when you account for ideological diversity, he's still popular. 80-85% of liberal Ds, 70-75% of moderate Ds, and 65-70% of conservative Ds. People with that kind of popularity are admired and renominated. George Bush had stratospheric approval ratings after 9/11, having these approval ratings across all voters. I don't remember Republicans saying he was a terrible President and should be replaced immediately.
And don't dismiss this popularity. Sometimes when this is pointed out, some liberals dismiss it, saying "Most Democrats are corporate whores" or "The sample was wrong. Don't use pointless numbers." Well, every poll gives similar results, if not better ones. And if you think Democrats are too conservative, too bad; you are a part of the party, and these voters select their nominees.
And historical comparisons don't work either. LBJ and Carter had approval ratings of 55-60% among Democrats during 1968 and 1980, respectively. If Obama falls that low, I will reconsider a primary against him. At which point, the primary and party split would have come as an effect of his unpopularity, rather than its cause. But until then, he is too popular.
Obama has an 80% approval rating among those who decide whether to renominate him. Say to my face (figuratively; don't track me down) that someone with a 80% approval rating is unpopular. It's idiotic on its face. You may not like Obama, but your party absolutely adores him.