Cambridge, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Even though House Republicans are now wisely folding their tents, their disarray this week over extending a payroll tax cut has left a sour taste at year's end in Washington, contributing in no small part to an even bigger political story: the resurrection of President Obama and his fellow Democrats heading toward the 2012 elections. After the debt ceiling debacle of last summer, the conventional wisdom among many political analysts was that Obama would go the way of President Jimmy Carter, that Republicans would lose a few seats in the House but retain control, and that the GOP would surge into power in the Senate. In short, Republicans were looking for a clean sweep.
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David Gergen: The payroll tax cut extension squabble is helping Obama, Democrats
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He cites CNN poll showing higher approval, stronger matchups for Obama vs. GOP
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Also hurting GOP is concern that its presidential field is weak, Gergen says
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Gergen: Obama has proven to be stronger at campaigning than governing
The truth about the breakdown in Washington is much more complicated (@placeholder deserve ample blame, too), but Republican congressional leaders have so mishandled the payroll tax issue that they have made it easy for the charge to stick.