This post was written by Hatchet reporter Naina Ramrakhani

If President Barack Obama wins re-election in the fall, it will be on the back of the liberal base, NBC News’ chief White House correspondent said Monday.

“The West Wing doesn’t feel very well run. To me, it starts from the top,” alumnus Chuck Todd told a packed audience at the Jack Morton Auditorium, pointing to the president’s approval ratings that have held at “a rock solid 44 percent” for the past six months.

“His approval rating, to me, is about five to 10 points higher than it should be, given the unemployment rate, given the depression of the country, given the way people feel,” Todd said. “If he wins re-election, it will be because the base has been with him.”

The alumnus said the Republicans have succeeded in setting a national agenda because of yearlong battles over the deficits and spending cuts.

Todd laid out election prospects for Republican presidential candidates in next year’s election.

He said businessman Herman Cain, who was accused Monday of having a 13-year affair with a businesswoman in Georgia, was “done” in the presidential race.

On Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Todd said that despite the media’s mockery of Perry with his debate stumbles, the candidate has been able to keep himself together.

When asked if Romney could win, Todd shrugged.

“Sure,” Todd said. “The line I keep using is: I don’t know how Romney is denied the nomination, and I don’t know how he gets it.”