Several prominent Senate Democrats are keeping their distance from President Obama, CNN's Dana Bash reports.
Sen. Mark Udall (D., Colo.) refused to say last night whether he wished to campaign with the president for his midterm race this coming fall. President Obama won Colorado in 2008 and 2012.
Sen. Mark Begich (D., Alaska) struck a less diplomatic tone with Bash last night, telling the CNN panel he did not wish to campaign with Obama. If the president came to Alaska, Begich said, he would "drag him around" and try to change the president's mind on issues like ANWR. Begich's campaign issued a press release last night touting his criticism of President Obama on CNN.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) assured Bash last night vulnerable Senate Democrats would invite the president to campaign with them. Today, he walked back that statement saying "it is up to the individual senators. I mean, I can't tell them who to ask to campaign for them. That's up to them."