After a recent GOP debate and straw poll, Republicans are optimistic about their candidates, but is President Barack Obama already on the road to re-election?

Some political analysts say it's a real possibility, and that beating President Obama will be no easy feat according to the electoral college.

University of Virginia professor Larry Sobato recently analyzed polls from key electoral states, and by his count Obama has 247 likely or leaning electoral college votes.

With these numbers, the president would need just 23 of the remaining 111 votes to reach 270 and win another term.

Obama won the presidency in 2008 by a landslide electoral college tally of 365 to 173.

But even with pre-election predictions leaning towards Democrats, many Republicans says it's not a done deal just yet.

CBN News spoke with Regent University distinguished government professor Charles Dunn about this. Click play for his analysis.