Dem leader: White House could be doing more to help candidates
- 08/02/10 10:18 AM ET
There's more the White House could be doing to lend House Democrats a hand in this fall's elections, the No. 3 Democrat said Monday.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said he's "comfortable" with the level of support President Obama has offered congressional Democrats, but added that he thinks the White House can do more — and has told it as much.
"I think they're doing a whole lot," Clyburn said during an appearance on MSNBC of administration support for Democrats. "I'm very comfortable as to where we are as Democrats in the House of Representatives, and I'm very comfortable with what the White House is doing thus far."
But, the veteran lawmaker said, the administration could be doing more.
"Are they doing everything that they can?" he asked. "I hope not, because I can think of a few other things they can do, and I've talked to the president about some of those things."
The White House and congressional Democrats have clashed publicly over election-year efforts in recent weeks, especially after press secretary Robert Gibbs said there was "no doubt" that enough seats were in play to hand over control to Republicans in this fall's contests. Gibbs backtracked on those remarks after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) dressed down a White House liaison in a Democratic Caucus meeting. Gibbs said as recently as Friday that he thinks Democrats would keep the House and Senate in the elections.
The White House has otherwise dispatched Vice President Joe Biden to hold a number of fundraisers with vulnerable incumbent Democrats across the country, and for a few campaign fundraisers for candidates challenging Republicans or running for open seats.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said he's "comfortable" with the level of support President Obama has offered congressional Democrats, but added that he thinks the White House can do more — and has told it as much.
"I think they're doing a whole lot," Clyburn said during an appearance on MSNBC of administration support for Democrats. "I'm very comfortable as to where we are as Democrats in the House of Representatives, and I'm very comfortable with what the White House is doing thus far."
But, the veteran lawmaker said, the administration could be doing more.
"Are they doing everything that they can?" he asked. "I hope not, because I can think of a few other things they can do, and I've talked to the president about some of those things."
The White House and congressional Democrats have clashed publicly over election-year efforts in recent weeks, especially after press secretary Robert Gibbs said there was "no doubt" that enough seats were in play to hand over control to Republicans in this fall's contests. Gibbs backtracked on those remarks after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) dressed down a White House liaison in a Democratic Caucus meeting. Gibbs said as recently as Friday that he thinks Democrats would keep the House and Senate in the elections.
The White House has otherwise dispatched Vice President Joe Biden to hold a number of fundraisers with vulnerable incumbent Democrats across the country, and for a few campaign fundraisers for candidates challenging Republicans or running for open seats.
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