President Obama dealt another blow to red state Democrats on Al Sharpton's radio show Monday, insisting that despite their political posturing, they "are all folks who vote with me" and "have supported my agenda."
Obama reiterated his devastating statement from October 2, when he told a crowd at Northwestern University: "I'm not on the ballot this fall...but make no mistake, these policies are on the ballot, every single one of them."
"A lot of the states that are contested this time are states that I didn't win," Obama said. "And so some of the candidates there -- it is difficult for them to have me in the state because the Republicans will use that to try to fan Republican turnout."
But Obama made sure to stress that although Alison Lundergan Grimes, Bruce Braley, and even DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz have all insisted that the president is "not on the ballot," all of them support his agenda and will vote with him.
"These are all folks who vote with me, they have supported my agenda in congress," Obama said. "These are folks who are strong allies and supporters of me."
Obama said he instructed the candidates to "do what they need to do to win," even if it means never admitting they voted for him.