As President Obama’s star continues to fade and approval for his handling of issues both domestic and foreign fall to all-time lows, vulnerable Democratic lawmakers running for re-election have scrambled to distance themselves from the administration’s toxic brand.
From Alaska, where Democratic Sen. Mark Begich is struggling to fend off Republican Attorney General Dan Sullivan, to North Carolina, where incumbent Democrat Sen. Kay Hagan is battling Republican state House Speaker Thom Tillis, vulnerable Democrats are working hard to prove that they are different from the man residing in the White House.
Republicans need to pick up a net six seats if they want to take control of the U.S. Senate after the November midterm elections.
And as part of this effort by the GOP to capture Congress’ upper chamber, wresting control from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Republicans have focused their efforts on close races in Alaska, North Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas and New Hampshire.
Unsurprisingly, many Democratic candidates in red-leaning states have chosen to avoid the president, some of them even openly disparaging the Obama administration.
Senate elections nationwide will be held on Nov. 4.
