Since FDR only 3 elected presidents have been up for reelection when the unemployment rates were as high as 7.2%. Although Carter and Bush lost, Reagan won. It is hard to tell from a sample group of three. Ford is a different case entirely as he was never elected to either the vice presidency or the presidency in the first place. Furthermore, Reagan won with 525 Electoral College votes. Only Washington, Monroe, and FDR had a higher electoral vote margin of victory. There is no doubt that the current economy and high unemployment rate greatly harms Obama's chances of reelection. However, there is simply not enough data to make conclusive judgments about the upcoming elections based on incumbent unemployment statistics rates. This election has unique historical factors, and as such the idea of Obama as a second term president should not be discounted.