When the Democratic Party first chose Charlotte, North Carolina, as the location for the 2012 Democratic National Convention, it was supposed to be an opportunity to showcase President Obama’s success with moderate and independent voters in previously red states like North Carolina. But with Sen. Claire McCaskill’s, D-Mo., announcement Tuesday that she will not be attending the September festivities, it is now clear that moderate Democrats in tight elections want nothing to do with Obama.
McCaskill, who spoke on opening night of the 2008 Democratic convention in Denver, is not the first Democrat to stay away from Charlotte at all costs. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., have announced they will not be attending, and neither will West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, nor Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va
The need to stay away from Charlotte seems to be infecting Democrats from all regions of the country. Reps. John Barrow, D-Ga., Mark Critz, D-Pa., Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Bill Owens, D-N.Y., are also all skipping the convention.
Some of the escapees, like Tester and McCaskill, claim their absence has nothing to do with Obama. While others, like Tomblin, have made their displeasure with his president clear.
But whether the skip-ees condemn Obama or not, their mere absence speaks volumes. In 2008, every Democrat who could breathe was desperate to get as close to Obama in Denver as possible. This year, they can’t escape fast enough.
Campaign 2012
Polls: A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows Obama leading Romney 47 percent to 44 percent. The poll also shows that more voters would be pleased if the Supreme Court overturned Obamacare.
Polls: A new Quinnipiac poll of Ohio has Obama beating Romney 47 percent to 38 percent.
Obama: Campaigning in Georgia, Obama called Romney the “Outsourcer in Chief.”
Romney:Campaigning in Selma, Virginia, Romney said, “If Obamacare is not deemed constitutional, then the first three and a half years of this president’s term will have been wasted on something that does not help the American people.”
Around the Bigs
Gallup, U.S. Economic Confidence Continues to Slide: Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index for the week ending June 24, was down slightly from the week before. Americans’ confidence has now receded for four straight weeks, and is at the lowest point since late January.
The Wall Street Journal, Court Backs EPA on Warming: In a blow to the coal industry and all energy consumers, a federal appeals court backed the Obama administration’s campaign to limit greenhouse-gas emissions.
CNN, NRA pressure could push some Dems to vote contempt for Holder: Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., signaled on Tuesday that some Democrats could join with Republicans to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress later this week, citing pressure from the National Rifle Association.
The Washington Post, Senate deal would freeze student-loan rates for year: Senate leaders have reached a deal that would freeze interest rates on 7 million college loans at 3.4 percent for one year.
The Los Angeles Times, Stockton to file for bankruptcy, will be largest U.S. city to fail: Stockton, California, will become the nation’s largest city to seek protection under the U.S. bankruptcy code after its City Council on Tuesday stopped bond payments, slashed employee health and retirement benefits and adopted a day-to-day survival budget.
The New York Times, Backed by NATO, Turkey Steps Up Warning to Syria: Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Syrian forces to stay clear of their troubled border or face a military response to any perceived threat.
Righty Playbook
At The Weekly Standard, Jay Cost says that Obamacare’s individual mandate “represents what’s wrong with the Democrats.”
At The Corner, Kevin Williamson says Obama “is showing himself an ignorant rube on the subject” of outsourcing.
AEI‘s James Pethokoukis highlights a new study showing that there has not been an explosion in inequality in the United States.
Lefty Playbook
ThinkProgress claims a new poll shows Majority Leader Eric Cantor, D-Va., may lose his reelection due to his pro-life beliefs.
Talking Points Memo‘s Brian Beutler says Democratic mega-donors are failing to match their Republican counterparts because they’re too “squeamish.”
Mother Jones‘ posts charts showing how the Supreme Court has become more conservative since the 1970s.
