Obama: Core philosophy of GOP candidates identical

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says winning re-election depends on the core philosophy of voters who go to the polls.

In an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" Sunday, Obama says it doesn't matter who the Republicans nominate because the fundamental beliefs of the GOP candidates are the same and will stand in sharp relief with his own.

He says that if voters believe in the Republican agenda of lower taxes, even for the wealthy, and weaker regulations, then he will lose. He says he thinks Americans realize that the GOP method hasn't worked in the past.

Obama admits that the public is hardly satisfied with the direction of the country and that the economy still needs a lot of work.

He says one of his main objectives is to build a strong middle class.

Obama predicts a long fight for the Republican nomination.

Sound:

183-c-14-(Jackie Quinn, AP correspondent)-"it should be"-AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports President Barack Obama says it doesn't really matter which of the Republican candidates he faces in the 2012 election. (11 Dec 2011)

<> 00:14 "it should be"

184-c-18-(Jackie Quinn, AP correspondent)-"accomplishments in office"-AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports President Barack Obama says he shares the voters' impatience over the economy, but notes he has made some changes. (11 Dec 2011)

<> 00:18 "accomplishments in office"

182-v-34-(Jackie Quinn, AP correspondent)--President Barack Obama says he does deserve to be reelected, and that it doesn't matter who he faces in the 2012 election because all the Republican candidates share the same core philosophy. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. (11 Dec 2011)

<> 00:34