If Barack Obama were to ask me for advice on how to get re-elected — and he won’t — I’d offer this tidbit.

Do not follow the Ann Richards model in her losing 1994 bid for re-election as Texas governor.

Ann Richards was wildly popular personally while running for re-election against Republican challenger George W. Bush. But she didn’t offer a simple theme for sending her back for another four years in office.

My recollection is that Richards didn’t tell Texans what she’d do in the next four years. She spent a lot of time and verbiage trashing Dubya. She called him “some jerk.” She made fun of his lack of government experience. She campaigned all across the state with punchlines.

Dubya, meanwhile, stuck to his focused theme, which dealt with education and fiscal responsibility.

President Obama now needs to lay out specifics on how he plans to fix the economy while keeping the nation safe from terrorists. It won’t work for long for him to keep blaming President Bush’s negligence for the economic collapse of 2008 and early 2009. Many of us get that part, Mr. President.

Now, tell us how you plan to lead us into the future. And please be specific.