President Obama's Campaigning for Hand-Picked Candidates Proves to be a Liability

President Obama has a terrible track record where his hand-picked candidates are concerned. This is a sign that his political capital is worthless and these candidates are buckling beneath a tidal wave of anti-eatablishment rage. Senator Arlen Specter's political career came to a stunning end with his defeat in the Pennsylvania primary Tuesday, by Rep. Joe Sestak. Specter is the fourth Democrat in seven months to lose his seat in a tough primary and this is despite President Obama's involvement. Dang, that hurts. I can tell you that this will follow the Democrats into the November elections. This does not bode well for President Obama. His inability to help fellow Democrats has been greatly diminished and is shocking.

This inability to influence voters on President Obama's part, could have serious repercussions for his legislative agenda if Democratic lawmakers decide they need to distance themselves from him as they seek re-election. It could also backfire on those Republican lawmakers who think this latest shift in voter sentiment is theirs to capitalize on. It's safe to say voters like myself are sick of both the Democratic and the Republican parties.

The reality is that Sestak's defeat of Specter is embarrassing to the Obama administration. It shows that he has a vulnerability that will embolden his foes like the Tea Party movement that received a resounding victory with Dr. Rand Paul's win in the Kentucky primary. I hate to say it, but it's time for President Obama and his team to go back to the drawing board.

The president and the Democratic establishment also suffered another bruise Tuesday when Sen. Blanche Lincoln was forced into a runoff in Arkansas' Democratic senatorial primary. Though he is not as closely linked to her campaign as he was with Specter, that's a tough position for him to be in as well.

I recall a time when no-one wanted former President George W. Bush to campaign on their behalf, but that was in his second term. It's shocking that this has come to President Obama in his first term. You will recall he was stung by Martha Coakley losing to Scott Brown in a hotly contested race to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. He was also dealt another strong rebuke by voters when then-Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election bid in New Jersey failed and Chris Christie was elected the new governor. Another stinging defeat came in Virginia when Creigh Deeds lost to Bob McDonnell.