President Barack Obama will do more in two days this week for his party’s candidates for governor than he has done all year, wrapping his arm around several of the most highly touted gubernatorial hopefuls on the ballot in 2010.
But the logic behind Obama’s upcoming appearances in Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin goes well beyond this election cycle. With 37 gubernatorial elections on the ballot this fall, the president has homed in on three of the only states that offer competitive gubernatorial contests this year and also are likely to be pivotal in his 2012 re-election campaign.
Obama will start in Wisconsin on Monday with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who the White House helped recruit to run for governor. On Wednesday, he’ll headline a fundraiser for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland in Columbus before flying to Miami to give a boost to Alex Sink, the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor of Florida, at an event for the state party.
Full Story: Obama helps governors to help himself – Carol E. Lee and Alexander Burns – POLITICO.com
OBAMA DIVIDES POLITICAL SPECTRUM