President Obama's Midterm Election Batting Average: .000

A quick question:

If you're a Democrat running for re-election, do you want President Obama campaigning with you? Oh sure, you'll take the fundraising money that comes from a presidential visit but do you actually want him with you side by side? I'm not talking about those Democratic liberals who are relatively safe. I'm talking about those Democrats who may be in trouble.

Look, in an anti-Washington, anti-incumbent mood, a visit by President Obama isn't necessarily high on the priority list. Plus, the President's track record isn't that good. Remember Creigh Deeds in Virginia? O-1. Jon Corzine in New Jersey? 0-2. Martha Coakley in Massachusetts? 0-3. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania? 0-4. (To make matters worse, with Specter Obama was nowhere to be seen on primary day. While Specter was going down in Pennsylvania, the President was in Ohio.) And now what about Blanche Lincoln? Can anyone say 0-5? Granted, the President didn't invest lots of time in the Specter and Lincoln races but that's the point: the President couldn't come to the rescue because he represents Washington now. And oh by the way, the one race where Democrats are all excited about winning (John Murtha's old seat) President Obama didn't even make an appearance even though Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1. Can anyone say "cling to guns and religion"?

The President is simply toxic. In 2008 it was all about "Hope and Change." Now skittish Democrats "hope" he'll stay away. Otherwise the only "change" may be party affiliation in their district.

 

Follow David Brody on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thebrodyfile

Comments

[Sue-in-Jersey]

11:27 AM on 05/21/2010

Nobody's buying what your selling, apparently.
Candidates rise and fall on their own voting records.

[Sue-in-Jersey]

11:25 AM on 05/21/2010

Gee, if the President's so "toxic" Mr. Brody, then it sure is funny how much he helps the Democratic candidates bring in the money. And that's what really counts against GOP, you know. $$$$ It's the only thing GOP respects.

[TryToBeFlexible]

08:40 AM on 05/21/2010

I disagree. These candidates lost because they were targetted (rightfully so) by the democratic branch of the democratic party. Obama's endorsement was meaningless, because progressives want change, and don't care who he endorses. If the DINO legislator stabbed us in the back, they have to go. Same will apply when it is Obama's time for reelection. So, watch and learn Obama. Insulting progressives and throwing LGBT (formerly ardent) supporters under the bus is just not workin' for you.

[SURRYMARK]

08:13 AM on 05/21/2010

Apparently the readership doesn't like this article: it wasn't Obama's fault that his five candidates lost, they all had big problems. But think how we'd be all over this if it were GW Bush. In the two big races, when neutrality would have worked, Obama quickly and vocally took a stand against the more progressive side of his base: he backed the man who trashed Anita Hill, and one of the most money-bought senators. Now, David Brody asks, would a candidate want Obama standing next to him/her? – and answers that Obama is "toxic." It's a strong word, but not so outrageous. Obama gains you nothing with republicans. He won't hurt you with the more conservative democrats who will always vote D. He could keep progressives at home. Elections usually are won and lost with a few percentage points. That's the arithmetic all Democratic candidates will be playing with.

[GunnyJ]

07:09 AM on 05/21/2010

David I'm surprised to read something like this from you. Each candidate you mentioned was weak and in trouble with or without Obama. How about giving a little credit to American voter who voted for the candidate they thought would best represent them.....

[S1m0n]

05:05 AM on 05/21/2010

With Specter and Lincoln, it's the candidates that were toxic, not the President. No doubt he was supporting them out of duty, but if we're lucky none of their stink will have rubbed off on him.

[wattnot]

04:06 AM on 05/21/2010

Tripe. And that is an insult to something that my mother used to cook and which I loved to eat, once a week. The butcher used to give it to my mother for nothing.

[ThinkCreeps]

12:05 PM on 05/21/2010

CBN's cow definitely gave up its stomach in vain.

[Chloe33]

02:59 AM on 05/21/2010

Most insightful article on HP in many months.

I just hope he comes to CA to campaign for Barbara Boxer -----

[lennix]

02:34 AM on 05/21/2010

WTF

[ESerafina42]

12:57 AM on 05/21/2010

You can't say with one breath that he's "toxic" and with the next criticize him for being "nowhere to be seen" supporting Specter on primary day. If he's toxic, then his not being there should have *helped* Specter. Most of these cases were ones where the person he was supporting wasn't particularly popular anyway, or a really bad candidate like Martha Coakley.

Oh, and speaking of "toxic," how's that Republican establishment endorsmenty thing goin' for ya, like with the guy in Kentucky.

[WalterNeff]

11:47 PM on 05/20/2010

The man who wrote this isn't a smart man. George Will is smart. Rachel Maddow is smart. Nate Silver sits on high. But this guy? His obtuseness takes my breath away.

[ThinkCreeps]

12:07 PM on 05/21/2010

I'm always astonished how people who claim to be doing the work of god almost always do bad work. It gives the impression that god's a melancholy foreman, always trudging round late into the night redoing mistakes made by his apprentices.

[clevelandchick]

10:55 PM on 05/20/2010

What a joke. The MA candidate was an incompetent mess who didn't even try campaigning until the last 3 weeks, NJ was roiled in corruption, VA seesaws predictably every term and Specter as a "Democrat" is actually 80 year old former Republican.

You completely ignore the viability & history of the candidates and strictly look at stats, how amateurish.

[Rockwell]

10:30 PM on 05/20/2010

You work for Pat Robertson and you call President Obama toxic? CBN is the only "news" organization that's more of a joke than Fox.

I applaud Arianna for welcoming all comers, but really, you have zero credibility to be commenting on anything other than what you had for breakfast.

[latia65]

10:08 PM on 05/20/2010

This is one of the most disingenious headlines I have seen in a while. Didn't read the article.

[Kryss Segle]

12:17 AM on 05/21/2010

Lucky you! I did read it and now it's 30 seconds of my life I'll never get back.

[nomobull]

12:38 AM on 05/21/2010

considered the source and passed.

[pizzmoe]

10:31 AM on 05/21/2010

Crap. I was half asleep and thought it said "CNN" so I read it. Kudos to those who skipped it.

[armenpand]

09:39 PM on 05/20/2010

Dave, you won an emmy in Colorado Springs for a 10 o'clock news show - in the medium market category - and you just dish out this stuff that the right wing feeds you guys so you can cash that check every week - and when did you graduate Ithaca? '87 or '88?

[ThinkCreeps]

12:08 PM on 05/21/2010

Colorado springs. Now there's a media market where people are willing to pay to be informed.