Obama plays narrow role in a last campaign
DETROIT — For President Obama, the last and loneliest campaign is about to end.
While Obama's Democrats struggle to keep control of the U.S. Senate — a battle with profound implications for his last two years in office — the president has been relatively absent from the campaign trail.
During a weekend rally at Wayne State University, Obama said he needs Democrats in office to help push an agenda that includes minimum wage hikes, equal pay for women, aid to education and improvements to health care.
"I want you to feel a sense of urgency," Obama told backers, asking them to get out the vote ahead of Tuesday's election.
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Democrats who cheered for Obama said they understand the stakes.
"All the things the president has done are on the line right now," said Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a Detroit educator who is running for the Michigan state Legislature.
Obama completed his campaign year Sunday by headlining rallies for gubernatorial candidates in Connecticut and Pennsylvania — and, at the first stop, running into hecklers of his deportation polices.
As protesters in Bridgeport, Conn., interrupted him at least four times, Obama said "the Republicans are blocking immigration reform" and "that's one more reason why we need a Democratic Senate."
Obama received a friendlier reception Sunday night in Philadelphia. When a woman shouted out "We love you!" to the president, he replied: "I love you, too — but I need you to vote!"
Most political analysts expect Republicans to gain seats in the U.S. House on Tuesday. The only question is whether Obama's party can maintain control of the Senate.
A Republican majority in the Senate would alter Obama's agenda, affect his judicial and staff nominations, and probably lead to more investigations of the administration. Obama would probably look more toward executive action — aides are preparing a series of orders on immigration policy — though there might be deals with Republicans on items like tax reform, free trade, and surveillance policies.
Despite the fight for Senate control, Obama has campaigned mostly for gubernatorial candidates. The president has appeared with Democrats at fundraisers and policy speeches throughout the year, but Saturday's rally at Wayne State was the only one of the last week to feature a Senate candidate, Michigan Rep. Gary Peters.
Source: USATODAY
2014 Election Forecast & Predictions
Democrats who cheered for Obama said they understand the stakes.
"All the things the president has done are on the line right now," said Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a Detroit educator who is running for the Michigan state Legislature.
Obama completed his campaign year Sunday by headlining rallies for gubernatorial candidates in Connecticut and Pennsylvania — and, at the first stop, running into hecklers of his deportation polices.
As protesters in Bridgeport, Conn., interrupted him at least four times, Obama said "the Republicans are blocking immigration reform" and "that's one more reason why we need a Democratic Senate."
Obama received a friendlier reception Sunday night in Philadelphia. When a woman shouted out "We love you!" to the president, he replied: "I love you, too — but I need you to vote!"
Most political analysts expect Republicans to gain seats in the U.S. House on Tuesday. The only question is whether Obama's party can maintain control of the Senate.
A Republican majority in the Senate would alter Obama's agenda, affect his judicial and staff nominations, and probably lead to more investigations of the administration. Obama would probably look more toward executive action — aides are preparing a series of orders on immigration policy — though there might be deals with Republicans on items like tax reform, free trade, and surveillance policies.
Despite the fight for Senate control, Obama has campaigned mostly for gubernatorial candidates. The president has appeared with Democrats at fundraisers and policy speeches throughout the year, but Saturday's rally at Wayne State was the only one of the last week to feature a Senate candidate, Michigan Rep. Gary Peters.
Source: USATODAY
2014 Election Forecast & Predictions
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