President Barack Obama pulls off a win but faces a polarized political environment that has continued to harden since President George W. Bush won a second term.

Pundits say voters, particularly independents, favor bi-partisan cooperation among office holders. Yet, Republicans remain in control of the House of Representatives and Democrats retained their slight grip in the Senate.

That is the balance of power that led to ideological gridlock on votes related to the stimulus bill, the debt ceiling and the president’s most recent jobs legislation.