Elaine Marshall, Senate Candidate: I Haven't Decided Whether I Want Obama To Campaign With Me

UPDATED BELOW

For the second time in as many weeks, a Democratic Senate candidate in a tough election race has expressed skittishness about campaigning with President Obama, asking instead for his wife Michelle to take his place.

In an appearance on the Bill Press Show this Friday, North Carolina Democrat Elaine Marshall declined to answer repeated questions as to whether she wants Obama to travel to her state between now and November.

"We want Robert Gibbs to come to North Carolina. He is a North Carolina boy," she said at one point, playfully talking up the president's press secretary as a presidential substitute. Told she wouldn't be let off the hook until she answered whether she wanted a North Carolina visit from Obama himself, Marshall finally replied: "Haven't made that decision. Haven't made that decision."

LISTEN:

In declining to take Obama's campaign help, Marshall -- a darling of the progressive movement with a real shot at knocking of Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) -- joined another upstart Democratic Senate candidate, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Penn), who wavered as well when asked if they want presidential support.

Like Sestak, Marshall's hesitance seems drawn from overwhelming polling data, showing Obama's popularity slipping dramatically in her state since the spring of 2009.

Also like Sestak, Marshall was discriminatory when it comes to Obama family members campaigning on her behalf.

"A lot of folks have asked about him coming and it is real interesting, they hasten to add but we like Michelle too... we like Michele, we are happy with her. She would be a great person to have here. But we are in discussions with the administration about some possibilities of folks to come."

UPDATE: A spokesperson for the Marshall campaign called the Huffington Post to stress that the campaign would gladly welcome the president's presence on the campaign trail.

"No decision has been made by the administration regarding who is available to come. We don't know what their travel schedule is or what is available down the line. But or course we welcome the president," said Sam Swartz, Marshall's spokesman. "She would love to see President Obama come to North Carolina and talk about jobs and the economy and working together."

Comments

[AgathaX]

11:45 AM on 08/08/2010

She's green. But even I --who have never been involved in any campaign-- know that you say that you welcome support from everyone, and then allude to the difficulties of scheduling. Then you change the subject. Her real crime was wanting to answer the question asked. Every politician knows you cannot do that.

[meko]

04:23 PM on 08/08/2010

The article title is misleading. She emphasized that she was thrilled to get Michelle and then said the campaign was in discussions about scheduling with the President. The update makes it clear that it's not her camp that stands in the way of a Presidential visit.

Most likely he's focusing on Blue Dog centrists, as the DLC and his top advisor Rahm have always advocated. I think it is gracious of her to not complain about the lack of support.

[TeaLady005]

09:44 AM on 08/08/2010

Obama flew to Atlanta recently and all the Demos ran out of town before his arrival! All of a sudden Demos had "prior committment,,schedule conflict,,,,calendar already full,,,et.",,,! You can bet this would not have happened 19 months ago.

Is there anyone who believes they are better off now with Obama as president? Of course not.

[the964kid]

10:15 AM on 08/08/2010

Compared to under G.W. Bush?? The guy who ran our country into the ground?? You're kidding right??

[Chris Burgess]

05:40 AM on 08/08/2010

North Carolina would be a very good pickup for the Democrats.

[BusstaBrown]

11:31 PM on 08/07/2010

I hope it is "just" a misunderstanding, because I SURELY will not vote for her if she turns her back on the President in classic Blue Dog style. It didn't help Cal Cunningham and it won't help her generate any enthusiasm for her campaign. Last time I looked, Mr. Obama won in NC. Heck, I voted for change and weak-kneed Democrats have made that task as difficult as obstructionist Republicans who jumped in bed with Tea Baggers because they wanted to keep the status quo. My message to Mrs. Marshall is "show some...."

[meko]

04:24 PM on 08/08/2010

She's not a Blue Dog at all. She's to the left of Obama, pushing for a public option or medicare buy-in, against the wars, against privatizing education, and for a bigger stimulous package.

Most likely it's that the President is focused on Blue Dog "centrists" and she isn't on the calendar yet. She beat the DLC candidate in the primary. So she's thrilled to get Michelle - all she's likely to get, and welcomes the support of the President.

[Marrymeplease]

10:32 PM on 08/07/2010

Just beat Richard Burr, that's all President Obama care about.

[GoDems2012]

10:01 PM on 08/07/2010

Democrats running from the President is a recipe for failure. Guess nothing was learned from Gore.

[the964kid]

10:15 AM on 08/08/2010

Yep.

[meko]

04:25 PM on 08/08/2010

She isn't running from the President. The article title is misleading. She says she's thrilled to get Michelle and hopes the President's schedule works out so he can come too.

[Roguewolf]

09:49 PM on 08/07/2010

If you want any chance to win I would say no. Obummer is toxic.

[BusstaBrown]

11:36 PM on 08/07/2010

Are you the same person that said we want Clinton until she started losing then changed your story? Republicans are good at trying to sow discourse. Do you ever stop campaigning? The President has a job to do and he's doing a pretty good job of it in spite of pesky knats.

[oscartucker]

02:02 PM on 08/07/2010

Sam Stein, I am glad that you provided the audio for this article because the "headline" is misleading. I will work for Elaine Marshall's Senate Campaign, but the title had me concerned. Richard Burr needs to go, has to go, and I will work to help him go! I hope my fellow North Carolinians will listen carefully to the audio and that you will work to get out the vote for Elaine Marshall.

[olephart]

01:53 PM on 08/07/2010

The Democratic nominee for Governor in Georgia had prior commitments and couldn't meet Obama on his visit to Atlanta. This is the South, we're on Southern Standard Time, turn your clocks back 150 years. Marshall may be a progressive but that doesn't mean she needs to be suicidal.

[John Colbert]

11:47 AM on 08/07/2010

Meko, is it really necessary to respond to EVERY comment you disagree with? It's pretty obvious what's going on here. She didn't want to answer the question and stalled. "Do you want Obama to campaign with you?" "Oh, I'd like Robert Gibbs?" "Would you like Obama to campaign WITH you?" "I'd love to get Michelle!" "WOULD YOU LIKE OBAMA TO CAMPAIGN WITH YOU?" "Haven't made that decision."

Her campaign cringed and later decided to post a tactical response clarifying that she would "welcome" the President to North Carolina. Notice she still didn't answer if she wanted him to campaign for her.

And Meko, we know that Marshall is more liberal than Obama. In NC, that's the problem.

[UpNorthGuyWI]

11:39 AM on 08/07/2010

Translation: North Carolina has caught on to the fact that Obama is an out of touch liberal. I need to campaign as a moderate to fool the voters. Once elected, I can move to the left where I really am, but I know I can't get elected as a liberal.

[hopepad08]

03:22 PM on 08/07/2010

You are so wrong, speaking as a person from NC.

[Guscat]

04:03 PM on 08/07/2010

Marshall is more progressive than Obama.

[Contact1972]

10:33 AM on 08/07/2010

I hope she kicks Burr's butt.

[bloominglater]

09:42 AM on 08/07/2010

If I were the President, I would tell her to pound rocks and if I were Michelle, I would tell her to kiss my entire behind.

[meko]

10:28 AM on 08/07/2010

Why's that? Because she said she was thrilled to get Michelle and would like the President to come if his schedule works out?

Because that's what she really said. The article title I misleading. Listen to the audio and read the update.

[citizen of the universe]

12:19 AM on 08/07/2010

If I was President Obama I would give the finger to all the Dems running out there. It's time for all of them that's running to talk directly to their constituents on what they will do for their States. IMO, he doesn't have a party, and a year and half before Republicans with help from those Democrats he disappointed on one issue vote in Sarah Palin anyway.

[amleth]

12:15 AM on 08/07/2010

I have also donated to Marshall and will do so again.

Changing one's vote on the basis of "news" like this is not very classy, and I think of Marshall as classy.

NC - watch for tr0//s hereabouts!

Non carborundum illegitimati.

[Inanho]

09:45 AM on 08/07/2010

Thank you, amleth! Elaine Marshall certainly has my support, and I have donated to her campaign more than once. Elaine is classy, and she has the people of North Carolina and the nation foremost in her mind. She has been a great Secretary of State for North Carolina.

As far as the tr0//s hereabouts in NC, I'm sure that certain parties are getting very nervous, since Elaine is polling great against the incumbent. YAY I love the Latin - a physician said that to me in my early 20s when I was at my lowest, and I have never forgotten it. Thank you again!