TOBY HARNDEN: Whiff Of Scandal Now Taints Barack Obama.

Certainly, recent Republican shenanigans have provided ample fodder for late-night comedians. Talk to many ordinary Americans beyond Washington’s Beltway, however, and you tend to hear about other concerns.

Yes, they are preoccupied with the prospect of a double-dip recession and unemployment. But two topics that were raised again and again by people I met in Michigan this week were the brewing scandals surrounding Republican-led investigations into Solyndra and Operation Fast and Furious. . . . Once principally a preoccupation of Right-wing bloggers, the Solyndra scandal is now being covered by the mainstream media and is slowly becoming an emblem for crony capitalism, wasted stimulus funds and, worst of all, stonewalling and hypocrisy from Obama.

But the appearance of Attorney General Eric Holder on Capitol Hill last week underlined the problems that Obama faces in his re-election bid.

If only it were just a whiff.