With Pressure on Democrats, Obamas Hit the Campaign Trail
Share with others:
WASHINGTON -- President Obama is seeking to rally anxious Democrats for the final two weeks of the midterm election campaign, traveling to the heart of the electoral battleground to urge them not to be discouraged -- "Don't let them tell you that change isn't possible" -- even as resurgent Republicans continued to expand their sights with the help of deep-pocketed allies.
Campaigning for the first time since the 2008 election with his wife, Michelle, the president visited Cleveland and Columbus Sunday to try to build support for Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio, one of the embattled Democratic candidates for governor, and to raise money while making the case for Democrats nationwide. The visits are part of an intensive two weeks of campaign travel leading up to the Nov. 2 elections, a sprint that started with trips to Massachusetts on Saturday and Delaware on Friday.
"The biggest mistake we could make right now, Ohio, is to go back to the very same policies that caused all this hurt in the first place," Mr. Obama, his voice hoarse, exhorted to an enthusiastic crowd of an estimated 35,000 people at Ohio State University in Columbus.
"I know it gets discouraging sometimes," he added. "But don't let anybody tell you this fight isn't worth it. Don't let them tell you you're not making a difference."
As he spoke, candidates were preparing for the final stretch. Republican confidence about capturing control of the House remained high, though even Republicans considered the Senate more of a question mark, given the number of excruciatingly close races across the country.
Polls showed a tightening Senate contest in California between Senator Barbara Boxer, the Democrat, and Carly Fiorina, the Republican. In Colorado, Senator Michael Bennet, the Democratic candidate, appeared to be gaining ground on Ken Buck, the Republican. The deadlocked Illinois Senate race continued to worry Republicans as well.
Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who is the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said again on Sunday that his party could still come up short in its push for the 10 additional seats needed to capture the Senate.
First Published October 18, 2010 2:01 am
