The past couple months have been absolutely devastating to Obama's re-election prospects, with him hitting all-time lows in approval rating in virtually every poll published in the last month. Governor Hickenlooper has been honest about Obama's poor prospects publicly for a while, saying in July that Obama will "have a hard time" winning Colorado. This reality is now sinking in for Democrats nationally, who are no longer talking up the prospect of taking back the House — a feat that would require capturing 25 Republican-held seats.
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The Obama drag has gotten so bad that even Congressional Democrats are trashing their Campaigner-in-Chief to Politico, with a House Democrat saying that Obama being on the ticket "will hurt us" in 2012.
Per Politico's Dan Hirschhorn:
Obama looms large in every calculus for House control. Buffeted by sinking approval ratings that recently hit sub-40 percent lows, Democrats privately express worry about running on a ticket with his name at the top.
"It didn’t have to be this way,” said another House Democrat who requested anonymity in order to speak candidly. “Obama’s presidency has fizzled. It’s going to be every person for himself in 2012. There just won’t be any coattails, and any effect he does have on the ballot will hurt us.” [Peak emphasis]
Obama's toxicity atop the ticket is causing heartburn for Congressional candidates closer to home here in Colorado, with Sal Pace, Brandon Shaffer and Joe Miklosi trying to figure out how close they want to be tied to an unpopular President. With Obama expected in town next Tuesday to raise some campaign cash, the three Congressional candidates will have to make their mind up soon.