Obama confident going into 2012

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama told supporters Thursday in Washington he is confident of his ability to be re-elected in 2012.

Obama, speaking at a fundraiser Thursday night, told donors the campaign remains "very confident" in the Democratic Party's ability to win in 2012 "as long as we can get the message out."

"And I just have to remind people that, here's one thing I know for certain: The odds of me being re-elected are much higher than the odds of me being elected in the first place," he joked.

The president said he has been able to help stabilize the economy over the last two years but admits unemployment remains too high.

"We are going through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression," he said. "And, historically, after financial recessions, it is a challenge and a struggle."

He said political partisanship is slowing the country's economic recovery.

"The country does not have patience for the traditional political games here in Washington," he said. "Those games are OK when unemployment is at 5 percent and, basically, people can choose to ignore it. But right now, they need action."

The fundraiser was held at the Georgetown home of former U.S. ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley. Couples paid as much as $38,500 to attend.