Obama can do ‘nothing’ to help Democratic candidates, Manchin says

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said in an interview published Tuesday that “there’s nothing” President Obama could to help vulnerable Democrats on the ballot next month.

{mosads}”[T]there’s nothing in these states that he can do” to help centrist, vulnerable Democrats, Manchin told The Washington Post.

Manchin has campaigned for Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.), Mark Begich (Alaska) and, with three stops Monday, Kay Hagan (N.C.), according to the paper. All are in the middle of tough reelection battles.

“He has to do his job, and that’s the most important thing that he can do. People already have perceptions, so him coming to these states is not going to be productive for candidates. And it’s a shame that we’ve gotten to that,” Manchin added.

Obama said during a radio interview with Rev. Al Sharpton that Democratic Senate candidates looking to distance themselves from the unpopular president have supported him and his ideas.

“The bottom line is though, these are all folks who vote with me, they have supported my agenda in Congress, they are on the right side of minimum wage, they are on the right side of fair pay, they are on the right side of rebuilding our infrastructure, they’re on the right side of early childhood education,” Obama said.

Earlier this month, Obama said that while he is not on the ballot, his “policies are on the ballot.”