How has your view of President Obama changed over time?
Both DFL and GOP operatives say their party stands to gain politically from President Barack Obama's visit today to Minnesota, writes MPR News reporter Mark Zdechlik.
[W]ith the president's popularity here at an all time low, his presence may hurt Democrats at the polls in November.
Republicans are tying DFLers to the president's struggles — much like Democrats did to Republicans in 2008.
Republicans hope the unpopular Democratic president will drag down DFL candidates seeking re-election, including Sen. Al Franken.
And although Obama's approval rating among Minnesotans has slipped, he is way ahead of George W. Bush's 25 percent Minnesota approval rating at about the same time in the 2008 election cycle.
"If the president is unpopular, that can tarnish your image as an elected official, but it's a double edged sword — having the president come in to campaign for you is really good financially for a campaign and it certainly energizes your base," said Republican strategist Cullen Sheehan, who ran [Norm] Coleman's 2008 campaign and remembers conversations about the risks of Coleman standing shoulder to shoulder with Bush.
Today's Question: How has your view of President Obama changed over time?
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