BYRON YORK: Obama Could Be Comeback Kid If He Mimics Clinton. “In his drive for re-election, Clinton needed Republican help, not just as a foil but as a source of policy initiatives. For a man who announced ‘the era of big government is over,’ Clinton had to be dragged kicking and screaming toward both balanced budget legislation and welfare reform — now seen as key accomplishments of his presidency. Republicans did the dragging, and when Clinton moved the GOP’s way, his prospects improved. The public also found that it liked divided government. Republicans were elected in 1994 because voters wanted to place a check on Clinton. Republicans were elected in 2010 because voters wanted to place a check on Obama. With that check in place, Obama might find that if he, like Clinton, were to move the GOP’s way, his prospects might improve.”