Manchin: Obama’s remarks hurt red-state Dems

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) admitted President Obama’s remarks that “every single one” of his policies was on the ballot this fall complicated red-state Democratic senators’ reelection efforts.

{mosads}”He makes it more challenging, let’s put it that way,” Manchin said when asked about Obama’s comments on MSNBC Saturday morning.

Republicans have pounced on the president’s remarks  — Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) have all used them in recent attack ads.

Manchin has been working to help reelect fellow red-state senators, recently stumping with Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.). He praised her and fellow red-state Sens. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) as “four good Americans” who are “right in the moderate middle.” 

He then put distance before their and his views and “what the Washington crowd believes,” knocking President Obama for “moving further to the left than my state ever will.” 

Manchin has long been critical of Obama — he famously shot the Cap & Trade bill with a rifle in a 2010 campaign ad — which has helped him maintain popularity in an increasingly Republican state.

However, it looks like some red-state Democrats may not be able to get enough distance from the president, as Republicans’ hopes for a Senate takeover have brightened.

 This post was updated at 2:10 p.m.