(Chicago Defender) — Election fever may not be as high around the country as it was during the 2008 presidential campaign, but top Democrats tell the Defender that the upcoming Nov. 2 midterm election is not only crucial to Barack Obama’s presidency but to the party maintaining majority control in Congress and in offices around the nation.
So members of the party have begun to “fan out around the country” to help candidates in tight races retain – or capture – their respective races.
“Although President Obama’s name may not be on the ballot his ability to accomplish the agenda he campaigned on is very much affected by the quality of the partners that are elected,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine told the Defender.
He explained that his organization plans to reach out to the electorate that overwhelmingly supported Obama to help ensure that candidates like Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who is in a contentious race with Republican challenger Bill Brady, and the state’s Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, vying for the U.S. Senate seat vacated when Obama moved to the White House, win their races.
