Some Democrats Don't Want Obama's Help in Congress

President Barack Obama needs to elect more Democrats to Congress this fall, but his unpopularity might work against him. The president reportedly acknowledged his lackluster approval ratings during his meeting with Senate Democrats at their retreat this week and in some states where Democrats are seeking office this fall, Obama’s numbers are even lower. In the Senate, four Democrats will seek re-election in states that Mitt Romney carried in 2012: Landrieu, Hagen, Alaska’s Mark Begich, Mark Pryor of Arkansas. Democrats must additionally defend openings in Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia, or risk ceding those seats to the GOP. But Democrats can’t cut loose Obama altogether. Openly shunning a president of the same party would threaten to make Obama even less relevant and disconnected from Democrats’ fortunes.

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