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

[The Northerner]

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.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/06/elaine-marshall-senate-ca_n_673194.html

Huh? Shouldn't this be an automatic yes from her?

I'm sure she could use all the assistance she can get.

[ProSense]

1. "We want Robert Gibbs to come to North Carolina. He is a North Carolina boy" Well,

if she wants Gibbs, send Gibbs. As long as she wins. President Obama isn't going to and shouldn't campaign with every Democratic candidate.

[CreekDog]

12. That's great advice for 1958

Whoopee, don't send the president because people are so stupid they will actually believe I'm not associated with him, oh but send his press secretary, who has been in North Carolina and talks like us.

Ancient advice. And stupid.

You're a Democrat, in 2010. First, you need to not look afraid, we voters smell fear. If you are afraid to have the President campaign with you, then we voters will smell that fear and wonder either 1) why am I supporting him if she is afraid to? or 2) why am I supporting her if she is afraid to support the President as I do? In a narrow political calculation where people are "loyal" to their state that's smart. Problem is...a couple million in North Carolina are from within 500 miles of New Jersey anymore. A lot of them roll their eyes because they can't vote for a liberal candidate or at least one that isn't afraid to be a Democrat --and they'll have a lot less patience and enthusiasm for this 2 years after Obama won North Carolina.

Furthermore, who the hell cares that someone is from your state? Give me a break --that is SOOOOO outmoded! I mean, golly, it IS interesting that so and so is from my state, but CRIMINY, that ain't affecting hardly anybody's vote anymore.

Loyal to my state? Are you kidding me? We are becoming a nation that is loyal to our ideas and those ideas have become ideological ones.

Campaign with the president or for Pete's sake don't bother running.

Stop trying to split the difference --that looks weak in a statewide race and if you don't realize that, you don't belong in politics because you're a liability.

Take a lesson from Barbara Boxer. Everyone said she was too liberal to win, did she move to the middle? No. To compensate for the pendulum, she just worked harder than her opponents and it worked, everytime. She's run against conservatives and moderates and the outcome has been the same.

If you're going to run from stuff, don't run at all.

It's weak.

Taking the stand of the week is so 1987, taking a stand and sticking to it is so 2010.

Take a stand and take your lumps, that's how you win now.

[asjr]

2. Well, so much for solidarity!

[impik]

3. A lot of hate toward this president in his own "side"

A lot.

[WI_DEM]

4. Where do you find the word "hate" many dems didn't want Clinton to campaign for them in '94, too

it's not that they "hate" him it's that his poll numbers right now aren't the best. It's a political decision.

[WI_DEM]

5. Elaine is going to need a huge turnout among African-Americans to win in NC

so we'll see closer to the election whether she will want the president to come in or not. That is a demo that clinched NC for Obama in both the primary and general election. And African-Americans are still proud of and, according to all polls, support Obama overwhelmingly. It's the white working class voter that she is worried about.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Stupid people getting taking in by the MSM meme..........

Just like they always do.

She should do what she feels is best, but she could first talk to Gore about
ignoring the fact that no matter what, Obama (like Clinton) is more popular than Congress
could ever wish to be......


Till then, Ms. Marshall......all the Kool kids went thataway!

[EC]

7. Besides helping the party

Everytime he gives a speech somewhere there is a boost for him in that state...If they both need to up their approval ratings - then both should speak to the people...ask for it..

[mzteris]

8. well that's disappointing . . .

I expected better from her.

[Phx_Dem]

9. Nice. Does she not recall that Obama won her state pretty handily?

Beyotch.

[Arkana]

10. Not handily, but he did win NC.

[CreekDog]

11. The *problem* with that is she's running with Obama whether she likes him or not

And as a lot of these Democrats fail to realize, it's a lot more effective to run with him by having him make speeches, greet your supporters and raise money...

More effective than having his only presence in your campaign as the star of your opponent's campaign ads.

Silent partnering with Obama simply does not work very well. Gutsy partnering with Obama will work better.

No partnering is not an option. The Republicans will make him your running mate whether you like it or not, Ms. Marshall. Might as well get yourself the President's impressive abilities as part of the package.

[KingFlorez]

13. The lessons of the past dictate

Bill Clinton didn't do much good to candidates in his first midterm, it's never a good time for a President to be out there.

[dsc]

14. It bears pointing out that she won against the candidate the national campaign committee

wanted instead of her. I trust her read given that she was elected in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 (getting more votes than Obama did).