BOSTON — President Barack Obama lent his popularity and cash-raising abilities to embattled fellow Democrats on Friday, defending White House allies whose losses would be an embarrassment for the president.
Obama began a day of politicking with a quick “official” event at Cambridge’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology to challenge the nation to lead the global economy in clean energy. But even as he stood in front of the seal of the presidency, Obama didn’t forget politics.
He praised Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick’s “leadership and vision,” saying he has endeavored to make his state “a clean-energy leader” — remarks likely to earn Patrick favorable coverage.
Obama’s compliments were just as glowing during the fundraiser that followed, where he brought in $600,000 for Patrick’s 2010 re-election bid.
However, the president leavened his praise with a heavier-than-usual dose of reality about the gubernatorial race in a climate hostile to the incumbent Democrat.
Obama acknowledged that he once thought Patrick couldn’t win in the first place. Gladly proved wrong, he now says Patrick’s “re-election is not a foregone conclusion.”
A Suffolk University poll last month found only 29 percent of voters responding that Patrick deserved another term.
At another fundraiser Friday evening, Obama planned to defend Sen. Christopher Dodd, who faces an uphill climb next year in Connecticut. The Democratic lawmaker has become a close White House ally in efforts to overhaul financial-industry regulations.
Obama travels Tuesday to Virginia to campaign on behalf of Democrat Creigh Deeds in a gubernatorial contest that is shaping up to be the GOP’s to lose. Deeds is trailing Republican Bob McDonnell in the race for the seat left open by term-limited Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine. The election is Nov. 3.
Some Democratic allies of the White House privately say the race already is over.
