DENVER (AP) – President Barack Obama is headlining his first fundraiser for a Senate Democrat in danger of losing this fall, taking a more direct role in the fight over who will control Congress for the remainder of his presidency.
But even with Obama’s fundraising foray for Colorado Sen. Mark Udall, vulnerable Democrats are still mindful of the political risks of being linked with an increasingly unpopular president. While Udall was to appear with Obama at Wednesday’s fundraiser, where news cameras won’t be allowed, he will not attend the president’s economic speech in Denver earlier in the day, ensuring that there will be no photos of the two men together.
Republicans quickly pounced on Udall’s plans, eager to link the incumbent to a president with sagging approval ratings, both nationally and in Colorado.
“Sen. Udall’s message to the president is clear: Help me rake in campaign cash behind closed doors, keep the media from capturing photos of us together and avoid real Coloradans at all costs,” said Alex Siciliano, a spokesman for Rep. Cory Gardner, Udall’s opponent in the November election.
Udall is one of several Democratic senators at risk of losing their seat this fall, putting Senate control within GOP reach for the first time during Obama’s presidency. Losing control of the Senate would be devastating to Obama’s chances of passing any major legislation in his final two years in office, though his prospects may be little better if Democrats hang on to the Senate and Republicans maintain their majority in the House.