White House Pre-Spins Tuesday's Elections

The Obama administration began the process of pre-spinning Tuesday's slate of primary elections, with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs telling reporters that the president has been following the races "not that closely."

Asked repeatedly during Monday's briefing to discuss the governing implications of Tuesday's vote in Arkansas and Pennsylvania (where Obama-endorsed candidates could find themselves in a run-off or a primary loss respectively), Gibbs refused to play ball.

"I'm happy to talk about the results when they happen," he said, likening anything more than that to predicting the results of the NBA Finals before the first game's tip-off.

But when pressed a bit further about what message is being sent if Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) lose or Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) is unable to get 50 percent of the vote, Gibbs acted as if the elections portend next to nothing for Obama himself.

"Obviously, we have appeared in commercials [for Specter and Lincoln]," he said. "But I don't think the two sides have argued about [the president] per se. Again we will have a chance to talk about the results and the outcomes and what they mean."

In a practical sense, Gibbs is correct. Both Lt. Gov Bill Halter and Rep. Joe Sestak stand as good (if not better) a shot of winning a Senate seat should they end up with their party's nomination. The fact remains, however, that the White House (through a policy of endorsing incumbents and recruiting Specter to switch political parties) has put some capital behind each of its candidates. And if either Specter or Lincoln have a poor showing, it will be treated as much as a reflection of the anti-incumbent mood in the country as the diminished ability of Obama to sway a particular race.

"Everyone knows that [sic] we supported in those two races," Gibbs said. "Again, we have supported incumbent Democratic senators and we have done a lot on behalf of each campaign. Again there are races all over the country that we will have to look at the Republican and Democratic side as to what it means."

Comments

[znamef]

05:17 PM on 05/19/2010

bo is just another professional politician - like bush before him.
if you are a big bank, big corp or manufacture war material then you get your bread buttered
by donating to either party.

Americans (the elite tiny percentage) know this.
Americans (the non-elite) have not figured it out - yet.

and so we will vacilate between these two parties until the majority - rank and file - average americans have had enough - there standard of living.

follow the money - it will tell you what is really happening - every time!

[Auduboner]

03:01 AM on 05/18/2010

I hope this teaches Obama to stay OUT of primary elections! Right now, he is backing TWO incumbents who both poll worse against the likely republican candidate in November. Does he really want to lose those Blue seats? The head of the party needs to remain above the fray...

[TommyMcCarthy]

12:16 AM on 05/18/2010

The only people in Pennsylvania, for example, who go to the polls in a Senatorial election and say to themselves "I'm going to use my vote to send a message to Obama"....do not vote in Democratic primaries.

They're called Republicans
TM

[Margot Sheehan]

09:31 PM on 05/17/2010

One of those times when it is best just to lie low. Least said, soonest mended. The landscape will all look different in September.

[Puller58]

09:21 PM on 05/17/2010

Sometimes elections just happen.

[SquealingPig]

09:12 PM on 05/17/2010

Bagdad Bob Gibbs . . is Beauitful!!! . . the Living Example of "Stupid Is as Stupid Does"

[Social Construct]

08:29 PM on 05/17/2010

It sort of shows the paradox of "Change We Can Believe In" and the White House supporting an incumbent. Too many incumbents have no interest in changing anything in Washington.

[BroadwayJoe]

05:46 PM on 05/17/2010

Funny how the White House is now backing away from terrible candidates like Lincoln and Specter. We all thought it was stupid from the get-go. I mean, who the hell is advising Obama? Oh, that's right. Rahm Emanuel.

[AnnC0725]

05:12 PM on 05/17/2010

Spector switched parties because he didn't expect the nose-dive of the Obama admin or the Democratic Party in general..Spector cares about Spector..he thought he was aligning with winners..turns out though..the other way around.

[Barnicle23]

06:15 PM on 05/17/2010

Nosedive?

[BethS]

06:53 PM on 05/17/2010

What data are you using for your statements (stated as fact but without support)? Just 'cause you say it doesn't make it so.