Today I wrote on the main site about how President Obama's once-effective sales pitches are facing greater skepticism as his second hundred days come to an end.

Even Obama advocates would concede that the administration needs a game changer. But heading into the dog days of August, a time that has bedeviled past administrations, it's unclear if that's possible.

What's especially troubling for the White House is that the current down patch comes after a sustained public relations push by the president himself, a tactic it had used successfully to navigate out of trouble even as far back as the campaign.

I also related the argument from some that part of the skepticism over his health care push is rooted in sense that the stimulus bill, pushed through with similar force from the president, has not produced results as advertised.

Well today, President Obama took to the cameras to respond to a slight drop in the nation's GDP, calling it "better than expected."

"As many economists will tell you, that part of the progress is directly attributable to the Recovery Act," he said. "This and other difficult but important steps that we've taken over the last six months have helped us put the brakes on the recession."

As further proof of a renewed focus on the economy, Obama next week will return to Elkhart, Ind., where he made his first trip outside of Washington as president last February. The town had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Robert Gibbs said today that he'll again speak on the economy there, while also making an announcement on Recovery Act funds.

"I think there is absolutely no doubt that the recovery plan ... cushioned that downturn," the press secretary said today.