Democratic candidates not supporting the president have a piss poor strategy. They make

[RKP5637]

the democratic party look fractured and out of control. If democrats lose, they have them to blame! If democrats lose, there are serious lessons to be learned. If democrats can't support their own president they elected, why the F do they expect others to support a fractured democratic party!

[cali]

1. it depends where they are. In states where the President

is very unpopular, it's understandable that dems aren't linking themselves to him.

[Adrahil]

2. I dunno... I think it makes them look gutless. NT

[cali]

5. but it may help them win. Isn't that worth it?

[Adrahil]

38. Maybe.... but...

I think it hurts the brand overall.

I think we should be convincing people why our way is better, not trying to pretend we don't believe what we believe. WE should not be selling our ideas as "not quite so crazy Republican."

But I do get your point.

[rpannier]

14. They should be supporting the successful poilicies

Hagan hasn't been playing up Obama in her campaign (as far as I can tell)
But she has played up the ACA

[cali]

26. alas, that's hard to do in some states. Successful but unpopular policies don't win elections.

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Agreed. Read this:

[demwing]

4. In a state where the President is unpopular?

They shouldn't have to sell the accomplishments of the President. That's the White House's job. These candidates should sell themselves.

You may not like it, but that's reality.

[B Calm]

8. Grimes was an Obama delegate in 2012. How was she going to hide that fact, or why should she?

It's time to educate the residents of Kentucky of Obama's accomplishments, not distance herself from them.

[demwing]

34. The reality is, she didn't hide it!

her quote:

"I'm a lifelong Democrat," Grimes told the Herald-Leader. "I'm very proud of that and the values our party stands for. My support of our party and our nominee is well known."

You're buying what the MSM is selling.

[bonniebgood]

9. demwing I would say if your opponent is running

against the President instead of you, then It IS your responsibility to sell the accomplishments of the President.

[rpannier]

15. Esp if you're running for re-election

Because you're actually selling your accomplishments

[demwing]

44. I'd say it's your job to change the narrative

When you play their game, you play defense.

NEVER.PLAY.DEFENSE

[Ykcutnek]

40. I get so sick of people who don't understand KY politics or read the fucking polls

pontificating about what our candidates here should or should not do to win...

Guess what? Liberal Dems support her in large numbers. It's the conservative Dems who will be voting for Mitch McConnell. Poll after poll after poll has shown this, but all one hears is that she didn't embrace POTUS enough... as if that's why she's losing in Kentucky.

The latest polls also said a majority of voters didn't give two fucks about her not answering the question of how she voted. 53% DID give two fucks about Mitch's non-answer on climate change.

Data and common sense are good treatments for Head-In-Ass Disorder.

[grahamhgreen]

6. One can support the president... But his endless war policy will have consequences.

[badtoworse]

7. Sorry, but that's a naive way of looking at it.

In case you hadn't noticed, Obama's approval numbers are in the toilet.

[bonniebgood]

11. Obama's approval numbers are in the toilet at 40% and

a teabag Congress approval rating is 13%. Oh I see fox tells you 13% is
larger than 40%. who's naive?

[rpannier]

16. I could make a case for both being naive

13% yes
But poll them on THEIR individual congressperson and the numbers spike

[Cha]

20. That's a rw talking point hammered by fox.. some perspective on President Obama's "unpopularity"

[butterfly77]

10. If were in a state where..

the candidate was running away from the President I may not vote for that person.

[bonniebgood]

12. What are your choices butterfly77? Now I understand by

NOT voting is vote for a republican.

[butterfly77]

13. I voted yesterday..

Fortunately my candidates stood with the President.

[hobbit709]

17. And sometimes it's because they get little or no support from the national party level.

It's a two way street.

[RKP5637]

19. That's a very good point! n/t

[ReRe]

18. They never learned that thing about...

... "circling the wagons" during elections. And I know at least one of them that's going to loose because of it. How unfortunate for that state and for this country.

[Cha]

21. Rick Weiland in South Dakota isn't getting help from the national party and he's still not running

from the President.

There's all kinds of different scenarios.. but, I like what Letterman had to say..

"Republicans don't like the President, even the Democrats running don't want him anywhere near him....

"Gasoline is less than $3 a gallon, unemployment is under 6%, and the Stock Market is breaking records,.....

No wonder everyone's mad at him.."

fadedrose http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5754303

[RKP5637]

23. I don't get it, for some, it just seems vogue to trash the president

as a recreational sport. Obama is not a god on Mt. Olympus. He has to work through an enormous amount of BS to get anything done. Every which way he turns, there are numbers of people/organizations and powerful forces trying to trip him. No president is perfect, no president can satisfy everyone. Given the obstacles that have been thrown at him, I think he's done a damn excellent job! I also think some of the propaganda has brainwashed some of the democratic candidates!

[Cha]

25. You know I agree with you!

[Vinca]

22. It pisses me off.

Democrats had plenty of good things to run on re Obama this time around, but the GOP told them those things were bad so of course the Dems crumpled into a ball and profusely apologized for doing good things. I don't get it. I really don't get it. If a Republican voter has a choice between a real Republican and someone trying to act like a Republican, they'll opt for the real Republican. In the meantime, the Democratic base is - like me - pissed off.

[RKP5637]

27. Frankly, I am getting fed up with the democratic party! More and more the democratic base, us, is

pissed off.

[Vinca]

28. And pissed on.

[RKP5637]

30. Thrown under the bus, as usual! n/t

[INdemo]

24. The Democrats that are running away from

Obama are not really Democrats. They are Republican lites and that would include Hillary

Check the jobs growth record, the deficit compared to when Bush left it in shambles, Osama is dead,GM is making money and Repukes cant stand those facts.

Republicans strategy was to switch the downfall of our economy in 2008 to Obama.Bush should be in jail but yet the Repukes blamed the high deficit on Obama and it worked because way back when in 2008, Democrats sat there and kept their mouths shut and allowed this to happen. So not supporting the President just didn't start in this election cycle.

[RKP5637]

29. I view them as a Trojan Horse! I don't even think of them as Democrats. n/t

[AtomicKitten]

47. +1

[PowerToThePeople]

31. fail

[heaven05]

32. cowards and traitors

to the POTUS, the Democratic Party and all progressive liberal democrats everywhere. COWARDS!!!!!! BLUE DOG COWARDS!! And if these types have not learned yet that they destroy unity, they never will.

[INdemo]

41. What is really sad is the fact

that Democrats have bee bought. The Kochs are now the proud owners of The US Congress and have their sites on the White House.suppose we will see oil wells and fracking on the White House Lawn?

[rtracey]

33. We are fractured

We, as Democrats are not fighting hard enough for our own causes. Health care for all, education for all, seniors, Latinos, women rights, equal pay for equal work..... I heard very little about these issues this election, only mudslinging and money laundering.... I know this will get a reaction, but I actually hope that every elected democrat that didn't support our president lose their election. Why would any democrat not support a president that took a 10% unemployment rate to just above 5%, reduced the deficit, had 40ish months of job growth, heath care ACA that IS working, saving lives and money. Ended two costly wars, and has the balls to keep our soldiers boots out of this ISIS and Ukrainian civil wars.....and countless other things that is improving our nation. We not sit on the eve of a possible Republican takeover of the congress. I see a stalemate for another 2 years, until 2016. Our jobs now....staring now is to begin new GOTV campaigns. First thing I want to call for is the replacement of Debbie Wasserman - Schultz as DNC. She was an absent chair. Next, I want to call for better candidates to run for office. Younger, progressive, liberal strong candidates that will bring our causes front and center. I want a unified party behind our presidential candidate, whomever it may be. Lets primary the best candidate for president, not just the popular choice, but the choice for our causes, for our country.

[RKP5637]

35. K&R! n/t

[Youdontwantthetruth]

36. Funny how the liberals and progressive are not running way

always the non-liberal and non-progressive democrats that are running away, the ones you can never really count on and the ones that deservedly need to lose.

[Ykcutnek]

37. If people would step outside the echo chamber every now and then, they'd understand...

The midterm electorate and Presidential year electorate are like two different countries.

The midterm electorate hates this President. The Presidential year electorate is less white, less hateful, more liberal, and consists more of folks who rarely participate in elections, but did so in large numbers for President Obama.

And everyone, including advisers to the President himself, know this and have publicly stated this.

It would be unwise for Senate candidates or the nominee to distance themselves from Obama in 2016, but in 2014, it makes perfect sense.

[RKP5637]

42. The results tonight will be quite interesting, we'll see if their strategy works. All said, I

certainly hope lots of Democrats win tonight!

[hedgehog]

39. I've been thinking about this, and I think the strategy is this:

People who support the President already are going to vote for the Democratic candidate, so there is no advantage to be gained there. People who are ambivalent or against the President might be won over by a candidate's personality, so that's where the campaign goes.

[RKP5637]

43. ... interesting observations/thoughts!!! n/t

[kentuck]

45. Unfortunately, the Democrats waited too long..

...to defend the Presidents policies. They permitted the Repubs to create a narrative about incompetence and were put on the defensive many months ago.

As for Alison Grimes, she needed independent voters, women voters, as well as the traditional Democratic voters, in order to have a chance at winning. She would have lost support by embracing President Obama in Kentucky. She did not fall for the Republican trap. No doubt she will be double-guessed if McConnell wins. But the President was very unpopular in Kentucky and if the Party had been successful at defending his record a year ago, it would have been an easier path.

[RKP5637]

46. Quite true. In psych, it's called the primacy principle AKA poisoning the well. Once the

negative stuff sets in, it is very hard to turn it around. That, IMO, is what is happening with democrats, they are letting republicans set the stage while some democratic candidates run around trying to be more republican and/or not supporting the president.

The republicans have defined the message some voters are taking to the polls despite how much democrats might try to change the perception the president is bad as is the democratic party. As you say, it is now too late! And even some democrats running are indirectly telling them the party is bad too, as well as Obama by not supporting the president. IMO, It makes the democratic party look weak, ineffective and not capable of having chosen a leader they respect. To me, it's bad all the way around.

[kentuck]

48. Normally, it is best to dance with them that brung you..

But there are exceptions to every rule.

[applegrove]

49. Dems fell for the GOP propaganda that

Obama could not do anything right. They were cowed.

[RKP5637]

50. I hope they enjoy what they brought into power! I won't. n/t