Hagan won’t join Obama in North Carolina

President Obama won’t be joined by Sen. Kay Hagan aboard Air Force One when he travels to Raleigh, N.C., on Wednesday for a speech on the economy.

A spokeswoman for the North Carolina Democrat, who faces a tough reelection battle this fall, told The Associated Press the senator will remain in Washington to attend to Senate business. 

{mosads}Last week, Obama said he would join with companies and colleges at the speech to promote high-tech manufacturing programs. The address will be held on the campus of North Carolina State University.

Recent polls in the state suggest Hagan’s reelection chances are a tossup, with the lawmaker garnering 43 percent approval and 49 percent disapproval in a Public Policy Polling survey released last month.

Hagan held a 2-point lead over state House Speaker Thom Tillis and was tied with the Rev. Mark Harris and nurse Heather Grant in hypothetical head-to-head match-ups addressed by PPP, a Democratic-leaning firm.

Obama didn’t fare much better in the survey, with 44 percent of North Carolina residents saying they approve of his job performance. Half of the state’s residents say they disapprove of ObamaCare, and 65 percent say the implementation has been unsuccessful.

Still, it might be tough for Hagan to divorce herself from the president. In August, she told a North Carolina newspaper she would “be honored” to have the president campaign for her. Last month, a spokeswoman told the AP Hagan would “certainly have him campaign” for her reelection efforts.

And Hagan is likely to see the president later that night, when Obama will host Democratic senators at the White House.

The North Carolina event is among a broader economic push by the White House ahead of the State of the Union address on Jan. 28.