WASHINGTON — President Obama is offering to help Senate Democrats get re-elected — by staying as far away as possible.
The president broached the sensitive topic of his political toxicity in some parts of the nation during a meeting with the Senate Democratic conference Wednesday.
“He said he knew he is not popular in some of the states, so he would not be offended if he were not invited to visit them this year,” one senator later confided to The Washington Post.
Several vulnerable lawmakers — including those in Louisiana and North Carolina — have already been shunning the president in their home states.
Other Democratic senators facing strong challengers are running against unpopular elements of ObamaCare.
One senator close to Obama explained the dynamic at work.
“This ultimately is about every member wanting to represent their state, and frankly, the outside help is of limited value anyway,” Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told The Post.
“Voters make up their mind based on the candidates in front of them, not on who else in their party shows up to campaign on their behalf,” she insisted.
“When I first ran for the Senate in Missouri, I asked Ted Kennedy and Chuck Schumer to stay away,” she added.
Summing up the White House position, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), former head of the Democratic National Committee, said:
“They want to be helpful. So whatever folks think will be helpful is what they want to do — and they don’t want to do things that folks think will not be helpful.”
The Democrats hold a six-seat majority in the Senate. But retirements and tight races on unfriendly turf this year have left control of the chamber up in the air.
With Obama declaring himself radioactive in some areas, that leaves a small number of big-name Democrats who could step in.
A Senate Democratic aide said party members are “confident” ex-President Bill Clinton will help raise funds and campaign for Democratic contenders.
First Lady Michelle Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Vice President Joe Biden each could also hit the trail to assist.
“It’s not unusual for a president to be in this much trouble after six years. But I don’t remember a president ever saying that,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), referring to Obama’s explicit offer to stay away.