October 23, 2009
Posted: October 23rd, 2009 09:33 AM ET

From
Obama is lending a helping hand to fellow Democrats.
Obama is lending a helping hand to fellow Democrats.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Barack Obama spends part of Friday helping out two fellow Democrats who face tough re-election battles next year.

The president is the main attraction at a fundraising reception and event in Boston for Massachusetts Gov.  Deval Patrick.

Just 3 in 10 Massachusetts voters think Patrick deserves re-election in 2010, according to a WHDH-TV/Suffolk University poll conducted last month. The survey also suggests that 42 percent approved of how Patrick's handling his duties as governor, with 49 percent saying they disapprove of how he's doing his job. The poll also indicates that Obama remains very popular in the Bay State.

Prior to the fundraiser, the White House says the president will tour a research laboratory at MIT, an institution that has been developing cutting edge clean energy technology, in Cambridge. The president is scheduled to make comments following the tour.

Later Friday, Obama teams up with another Democrat facing a difficult re-election next year, Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut. The president and the senator are expected to tour a small business in Stamford before Obama headlines a fundraising dinner for Dodd.

A Quinnipiac University poll conducted last month indicated that Dodd's approval ratings have rebounded from the beginning of the year, but remain south of 50 percent, troubling for an incumbent running for re-election. The survey also suggests Dodd is neck and neck with his Republican challengers in hypothetical matchups. The poll also indicates that Obama remains popular in Connecticut.

Filed under: President Obama


STILL unemployed in Iowa   October 23rd, 2009 11:33 am ET

LIES and MORE LIES from a JOKE of a Leader.

Where are the jobs or are you still blowing smoke,

Proud Member..Party of No   October 23rd, 2009 11:31 am ET

lol...Mr Narcissist doing what he does best....reading a teleprompter. This guy never works but, then again, we're all better off when he is out campaigning because it keeps him from doing further damage to the country.

Can't wait till 2010   October 23rd, 2009 11:26 am ET

In their first nine months in office Bush and Clinton did 5 and 6 fundraisers respectively, the campaigner in chief is at 25 as we speak.

Not like the fraud has anything else to deal with, he spends more time fundraising than talking to Generals, working on healthcare reform and creating uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh jobs.

But gosh, he talks so nice with a teleprompter and Shelly can do the hula hoop real swell.

Where did I get my information from, the only REAL news organization in town that REPORTS the truth, their new name is "Barry's worsed nightmare".

BWN for short.

Four and The Door   October 23rd, 2009 11:23 am ET

It is good to have a well-defined set of priorities.

Rob   October 23rd, 2009 11:22 am ET

Hey Obumbles, why don't you hit the "Supporting our troops in Afghanistan" circuit instead? Rather than send out your talking puppet lackey Gibbs to spread lies about the Bush Administration. Why is it you always have to blame everything on Bush? He did more for you in the transition phase than Billy Clinton did for Bush in 2000.

I tell ya, sending lackeys out to bash Fox News, having your press puppet spread lies to try and cover your ineptitude with regards to Afghanistan. Better enjoy it while it lasts, because you will be voted out in 2012, and rain of idiocy of the worst president ever shall come to an end. Just hope America can hold out that long.

Enough   October 23rd, 2009 11:19 am ET

What about Afghanistan, the economy, unemployment? Waiting till after the November elections to announce he will send the troops to Afghanistan? Keeping his priorities straight, campaigner in chief and we the tax payers are paying him to campaign.

Wanda   October 23rd, 2009 11:15 am ET

Oh he's at it again. I think it was great of him to stay at the White House and have the family portrait made before his next pleasure trip. Oh but wait, he has all his CZARs to run the country. Sad that jobs are still going down the tubes but he is still able to enjoy his trips. Pelosi can take care of Health Care?!?!?!?!?!?

Dave   October 23rd, 2009 11:11 am ET

Does the president do anything non-political non-fundraising non-campaign related? Seems like all other actions are all around the most prolonged campaign in the history of the US: speeches and fund-raising!

Jane   October 23rd, 2009 11:06 am ET

Does he ever work??

seebofubar   October 23rd, 2009 11:04 am ET

Unemployment is over 10%, Iran and N.Korea are on the verge of becomming terrorist nations with neuclear weapons, our soldiers are dying at an accellerating pace, there is more un-rest in our contry than we've seen since the 60's, healthcare reform is in shambles and Bozo is off campaining. Comming from Illinois this does not surprise me but it should be a wake up call to all of those who actually believed that he is qualified and experienced enough to be president. This guy is a disgrace to the office.

GaVoter   October 23rd, 2009 11:03 am ET

With a record 41 major network interviews in the first 9 months.., its clear Obama never stop campaigning.

susie   October 23rd, 2009 11:00 am ET

Who pays for the Secret Service, airplane and etc. when Obama goes on these campaign stops? I hope the taxpayers aren't footing the bill.

Wheat   October 23rd, 2009 10:57 am ET

Note to the President:
The campaign ended a long time ago. Stay home and do the job you were hired to do.

Greg Pottstown Pa   October 23rd, 2009 10:56 am ET

He has time for fund raising but not to make a decision on troops for Afghanistan. It has only been 2 months. I thought he had a strategy worked out before he was elected? This guy is a joke, and I say that with great disappointment as I like to be able to hold American presidents up as a vision of what this country stands for. Obama has done very little good so far. Aside from speeches and promises that have gone out the window, I shutter to think what he has done for this country that benefits the people, and not just liberal objectives. Remember when he said that the health care debate would happen with both sides of the house and senate around the table and it would be covered by cspan, can anyone tell me when that will or has happened?
Remember the unprecedented transparency he promised, what happened to that?
Remember when he said that we wanted to hear all sides of a debate, that happened until someone dared to question him?
what do all of you libs have to say?

File under "Sarcasm"   October 23rd, 2009 10:54 am ET

I'm so glad we elected Obama as Campaigner in Chief. It keeps him out of Washington where he could screw up things like Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, unemployment, cap and trade, healthcare and all those other serious issues.

Yep, keep President Obama on the road reading speeches off a teleprompter complaining about Fox News criticism and stumping for such highly respected Democrats as Duval, Corzine, and Deeds while Emmanuel, Axelrod, Pelosi and Reed handle the tough issues.

Paul from Phoenix   October 23rd, 2009 10:52 am ET

President Clinton went to 5 fundraisers his first year in office. President Bush went to 6 fundraisers, none after Sep. 11, in his first year in office.

President Obama has been to 26 fundraisers already around the country. How about spending a little time in Washington with your generals and actually coming up with an Afghanistan strategy.

Pee Wee   October 23rd, 2009 10:52 am ET

Maybe he'll give some of those funds back to the taxpayers? Why doesn't he go on a campaign for creating jobs?

typical white person   October 23rd, 2009 10:52 am ET

In 9 months he has had time to:

attend 22 fund raisers
host a "salsa" dance
golf
shoot hoops
vacation on Martha's
have a "date night" in NYC
attack Rush, Fox, CNBC, Kramer, Beck, O'Reilly, talk radio, Chamber of Commerce, Humana, Wall Street, Cheney (Dick and Liz), and Bush (ad nauseum)

But in 9 months he hasn't had enough time to come up with a strategy on Afghanastan – his own "war of necessity" which is now becoming a "war of inconvenience" where the Taliban may become the next Hezbolah.

So I guess picking a dog is almost as hard for him to do as determining the course of a war.

How is that "change" working out for ya'?

Brenan   October 23rd, 2009 10:51 am ET

I know Deval is Obama's friend, but Obama's got to see that Deval is out of his league right now. I have no doubt that Deval can become a good governor, but right now he is foundering.

RR   October 23rd, 2009 10:46 am ET

It took him nine months to visit New Orleans, and he could only spend FOUR hours there before jetting off to yet another fund-raiser.

He seems to be able to find a lot of time for fund-raisers, but not much time for the common man.

What does this say about his priorities?

Politics as usual. Is this "change we can believe in"? The more things "change," the more they stay the same.

John from LA   October 23rd, 2009 10:43 am ET

Hey Mr. Pres.-Try working at the WH and STOP the campaigning!!!

Hugo   October 23rd, 2009 10:41 am ET

When is Obama going to get off the campaign wagon and do something productive for our Nation? It seems everything they touch turns to molten crap? Everything they have done economically has put more of a financial burden on the tax paying middle class citizens of the United States. What a JOKE! I want to go back to work President Obama, I would suggest that you do the same!

Tim   October 23rd, 2009 10:40 am ET

Again.

Change you can believe in.

Bee   October 23rd, 2009 10:40 am ET

The Campaigner & Chief has found the only thing relating to the Presidency he excels at.

New Age Independent   October 23rd, 2009 10:38 am ET

Obama campaigning, who would have thought... Seems like that's all he does nowadays.

Matt   October 23rd, 2009 10:33 am ET

When does this guy ever have to time to run the country–aside from running it further into the ground.

Obama, please focus on economy (and please stop pushing ideological policies that hurt the middle class).

Andrew   October 23rd, 2009 10:29 am ET

Would somebody please list ONE THING Obama has done to keep his job approval rating despite the fact that 51% of the country disagree's with him on every major issue? Aside from campaigning and complaining, I am not aware of one thing he has done since he assumed office?

Fair is Fair   October 23rd, 2009 10:29 am ET

Go figure. The clown-in-chief rock star is on tour again.

PJP   October 23rd, 2009 10:24 am ET

Yep, always the fund raiser and never the president!

Carnell From The Motor City   October 23rd, 2009 10:17 am ET

More Hypothetic (...And I Do Mean Pathetic!) Polls And Theory Application Sponsered By HypocriCNN. As For President Barack Obama, Good Luck With The Fundraisers.

AskMeLater   October 23rd, 2009 10:13 am ET

You know. He might be able to make a decision on Afghanistan quicker. If he spent more time working on Afghanistan.

Jay1975   October 23rd, 2009 10:13 am ET

"Obama hits the fundraising circuit" He never stopped.

DaveinCincinnati   October 23rd, 2009 10:12 am ET

It's good to see he has time to raise money and blast fox news.
It's not like we have anything else going on.
He really shaping up to be one fine president.....Is it 2012 yet?

USN   October 23rd, 2009 10:11 am ET

When did he stop?

Obama, please stay on the business at hand   October 23rd, 2009 10:11 am ET

I think you do a good job, but finish up, don't get sidetracked in this political fund raising

I don't know how you can avoid it, it takes a bank to run, but don't lose focus

Old Farmboy   October 23rd, 2009 10:09 am ET

Is it the news or the norm when President Obama does a fundraiser?

Scott, Tucson   October 23rd, 2009 10:01 am ET

So... obama can run around the country on political fund raisers or throw lavish parties at the White House but he can't sit down for one day to evaluate his Afghanistan field commander request for more troops which goes back to August and make a decision. I guess saving the political hides of his fellow democrats and being a party animal is more important to him than saving lives of our troops.

GoingRogue   October 23rd, 2009 10:00 am ET

Give the guy a break. He is doing what he does best.

JD   October 23rd, 2009 10:00 am ET

Excuse me!!! I thought we had some Afghan War business to attend to?

Mark   October 23rd, 2009 9:59 am ET

Lot's easier to do that than to actually govern our country.

CanadiansH8Liberals   October 23rd, 2009 9:58 am ET

....and still no decision on what to do in Afghanistan...

CTGIRL   October 23rd, 2009 9:57 am ET

Oh yes he is popular in CT! We are an educated bunch!! Let's see if he can help Dodd because the thought of a republican senator in CT is just horrible!

Bill   October 23rd, 2009 9:55 am ET

I think Hugo needs to stay at home and work on job creation.

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   October 23rd, 2009 9:53 am ET

The President rakes in the cash. There's no better fundraiser.

WoW   October 23rd, 2009 9:52 am ET

With all that is going on in the world, our president is flying around the country on tax paying dollars for political fundraisers?

Mr. President, we have nations gaining nuclear capabilities, unemployment rates that are unacceptable, wars in afghanistan and Iraq and you are out political fundraising?! You passed a stimulus bill of over $780 billion stating that with this bill the unemployment rate will stay at 8%. It's at 10% now.

You would rather have a war with Fox News and go on political fundraisers than deal with what is plaguing our nation? I ask that you please focus on the issues at hand.

jennifer   October 23rd, 2009 9:49 am ET

STOP the crap and get to WORK, Obama! All you need to do, everyday, is fight for American jobs. That's it! JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! And thank you, CNN for defending Fox News yesterday. The White House tried to exclude Fox from interviewing the pay czar. CNN and ABC, CBS, and NBC stood up for Fox. They said, if Fox can't come, we will not come. Thank you CNN, for doing the right thing.

Dominican mama 4 Obama   October 23rd, 2009 9:45 am ET

I don't know how he does it! This man is everywhere AND still taking care of business at the White House. Multi-tasker extraordinaire! so glad we have him!

Mark   October 23rd, 2009 9:45 am ET

Get back to WORK, Mr. President!!! All he wants to do is campaign and be infront of the TV cameras. What a joke!!!

demwit   October 23rd, 2009 9:42 am ET

Did he ever leave??

Ralph Kramden   October 23rd, 2009 9:37 am ET

You go Barack! You are the best U.S. president in history. Ignore all the critics as they should leave you alone. You did not create the mess we are in and everyone should not be pushing you to fix it. You are wonderful and the wind beneth our feet. All of America loves you and your family. Every American sees you as a vision of what we should be.

Wake Up   October 23rd, 2009 9:35 am ET

Shocker. That's what Obama is best at. Campaigning and giving a teleprompter speech. 10% unemployment, 1.42 trillion debt due to Obama, and no support for our troops...but Obama thinks it's time to raise money. What a fraud!!!!

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