A crack may be developing in the political armor of President Obama.

According to a New York Times/CBS news poll, a substantial majority of Americans say the president has not developed a strategy to deal with the budget deficit. The poll found that support for his plans to overhaul health care, rescue the auto industry and close Guantanamo prison falls well below his job approval ratings.

This says most Americans remain fixated on Obama’s personality and the thrill of having a person of color as president. This poll gives conservatives and Republicans an opportunity to exploit this gap between form and substance if they have the courage. I know talk radio and Fox News do, but what about elected officials?

Another finding in this poll is that while 53 percent of the public doesn’t know enough about Judge Sonya Sotomayor to say whether she should be confirmed, 74 percent say it is very or somewhat important that the court reflect the country’s diversity. My opinion: a Hispanic liberal is no different from a black or white liberal.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.