"...the small minority that do want Obama will win through lack of opposition."

Depending on what polls you read, Obama is preferred by a slight majority. Mind you, pollsters usually only talk to 'likely voters', but I suspect the preferences break down the same way among non-voters. The sad thing is those people who don't vote but want to bitch about office holders and their policies. Regardless of which candidate is chosen, he could win 100% of the votes cast and would still have been selected only by a minority of those eligible. People in emerging democracies will walk two days and stand in line for two more to vote; here we won't come out if there's a 70% chance of rain; gods forbid it should snow. I think Max has questioned whether we want people that easily discouraged to participate in the first place. Somedays I agree, some I don't.

Another sad thing is that the process of running for office has become so demeaning that many qualified individuals refuse to consider candidacy.