The AP tells us:
President Barack Obama is coming to a swing state near you this fall.
The Democrat known for packing stadiums from coast to coast plans at least four major rallies in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Nevada before the Nov. 2 midterm elections.
He also plans to host a teletown hall event in October to fire up backers of his 2008 presidential campaign in hopes they turn out for Democratic candidates this fall. That’s according to the Democratic National Committee.
Obama plans to host a rally in Madison, Wis., on Sept. 28; Philadelphia on Oct 10; Ohio on Oct. 17, and Las Vegas on Oct. 22.
Party aides say the White House also could add more presidential appearances in the run up to the elections.
Let’s unpack this: Wisconsin is to help Feingold and Tom Barrett in the governor’s race. Philadelphia is presumably to help Sestak and Onofrio in those statewide races, and maybe the swing districts in the Philly suburbs. Ohio is one that he technically has to do, even though support for Ted Strickland and Lee Fisher looks pretty anemic right now.
And the final one, closest to the election, is Nevada, to help save Harry Reid and maybe help Rory Reid avoid an embarrassing landslide. Maybe a House race or two.
Not much on offense, really; no Florida, no Missouri, no New Hampshire, no effort to help out a Democratic challenger in Louisiana or North Carolina. Obama’s underwater in Ohio, underwater in Pennsylvania, underwater in Nevada, and a little underwater in Wisconsin. (I guess it’s not that surprising when you’re underwater nationally.)
Even within the states this is pretty defensive -- going to Wisconsin to visit the college kids in Madison? All friendlies and no persuadables there. Feingold and Barrett will win that district easily anyway.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou people are talking about him like a dog.
Very short list of visits there, he vacationed more often in July and August than he'll campaign in three months. But even with those immediate areas being extremely friendly areas, the burbs of those area and elsewhere in the states are going to be very negative on the appearance. I really want him to campaign non stop from now until Nov. The more people see and hear obama the more people are reminded of the national mistake in Nov '08. Things are not going to get better before Nov so he is our best asset.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGood point Hoover -- the more he talks, the lower Dems go in the polls.
He had a long news conference today (a rare event), in which he seems to have said all the same stuff he always says. The sheer repetition of those lame arguments leaves one with the impression that he has run out of ideas (in addition to the arguments being lame in the first place.)
One big question is, will his base notice that he has no new ideas and hasn't delivered on the old ones? Very curious to see what he'll do after the election, assuming it comes out Republican. My guess is he never visits another "Red district" again (he seems afraid to already: Madison, Cleveland, Philly . . .) I can't seem him being clever (or non-ideological) enough to pull a Clinton and win over the center again. More likely to be a petulant Jimmy Carter.
Another big question is, when will "the race card" JUMP THE SHARK already?? Isn't everybody sick of it by now?
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