Like GOP, Obama targets states with early primaries

WASHINGTON -- Even without a Democratic challenger, President Barack Obama is planning an aggressive role in early primary states. His operatives are already moving in, organizing volunteers and raising money to answer Republican attacks and do what they can to weaken the GOP's strongest challengers.

With the election 19 months away, Obama's campaign could keep a low profile while Republicans pummel each other. But he won't be content to watch passively as his potential rivals duke it out.

Three of the earliest-voting states -- Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada -- will also be strongly contested in the fall of 2012. Likely Republican candidates already are assailing Obama there, and his aides say they can't wait months to respond.

"Issues are going to be joined there, statements are going to be made, points are going to be raised," top Obama adviser David Axelrod said in an interview. "It behooves us to make sure that facts are well represented."

Democratic insiders say there's another reason for Obama's team to engage in early primary states, including South Carolina, which the president has little chance of winning in the general election: By strategically stirring the pot, his backers may manage to undermine those Republicans seen as most likely to give him a tough fight next year.