Lukewarm Support

Back in April, we discussed the problems an Obama ticket might pose for Congressional Democrats within Pennsylvania. Specifically noted was the 10th Congressional district where Obama lost by an average of 30% in the primary.

Yesterday, Roll Call had an article highlighting the same point. However, the problem for down-ticket Democrats is not exclusive to Pennsylvania. Rather, it extends to important Congressional seats in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

Obama may have been able to bring independents into the fold, but he failed to win some key Democratic constituencies and mobilize conservative voters. While other campaigns have expressed interest in Obama coming to their districts, Rep. Chris Carney's office seemed at best lukewarm on the idea of bringing Obama into campaign for him. Yet, Carney vocally supports few things so it's hard to decipher just where he stands.

From the article: "Asked whether Carney would welcome Obama to campaign with him in his district, Carney’s campaign deflected the question."

The conundrum that the 10th District poses for Democrats is that it will be a key battleground for both the Presidency and for the Democratic majorities in Congress so both interests will directly confront each other. Obama will need success in key counties like Lackawanna and Luzerne to win Pennsylvania. Thus, whether wanted or not, Obama will be right in Carney's backyard.