President Obama, rallying the party’s financial faithful in Hollywood, basically said that a vote for embattled Senate Democrats- like appointed Sen. John Walsh (D-MT)- is a vote for him.
The LA Times has this: President Obama raises money for Senate Democrats in Bel-Air
“We get this downward spiral of even more cynicism and more dysfunction, and we have to break out of that cycle. That’s what this election is about,” Obama said. “A lot of people are already excited for 2016. You were excited for 2008. You got geared up for 2012, and I am grateful. But I need some partners; I’ve got to have a Democratic Senate.”
Tickets for Wednesday evening’s event ranged from $10,000 to $64,800, according to a DSCC official.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee responded:
“President Obama admits that a vote for John Walsh is in essence a vote for him, which gives Montanans more than enough reasons to vote against him,” said NRSC Press Secretary Brook Hougesen. “If John Walsh wants voters to take him at his word, he will refuse to accept liberal campaign money and resources from both President Obama and the DSCC. Until then, voters should assume that John Walsh is simply a proxy for Barack Obama.”
Meanwhile, Republican US Senate candidate Steve Daines (R-MT) goes after Walsh over the federal debt:
Interesting how quickly Team Daines responds to Walsh ad on fiscal responsibility. Daines protecting GOP brand from co-option. #mtsen #mtpol
— David Parker (@dparkermontana) May 9, 2014
Walsh ad attacking rising costs of “Obamacare” is interesting. Team Tester avoided the ACA in ads in 2012. #mtpol #mtsen
— David Parker (@dparkermontana) May 9, 2014
As for the latest polling on the race, here’s an excerpt from a recent Washington Post article: Dem Pollster Shows Daines 12 Points Over Walsh
Five new polls conducted for a group that supports the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline show Republicans with a big lead in the open Montana Senate race and knocking at the door but still trailing in open-seat races in Iowa and Michigan.
The surveys, from Democratic pollster Hickman Analytics, show Rep. Steve Daines (R) with a 49-37 lead over appointed Sen. John Walsh (D) in the Montana race. They also show the GOP down between one and six points in the other three states.