Obama to Pressure Republicans, Lacks Support of Democrats

Politico reports that President Obama will go "on the road" to "GOP swing districts" to tout his "jobs bill."

President Barack Obama has had enough of this legislator-in-chief stuff, and will press for his $447 billion jobs bill on the road, far away from the negotiating table — and inside GOP swing districts.

Senior administration officials believe Hill Republicans plan to obstruct or dismantle any plan the president proposes, so the strategy now is for Obama to do the hard, slow work of selling Middle Americans, especially independents, on the package that includes payroll tax cuts and billions in local aid to prevent teacher, police and firefighter layoffs.

Specifically, "Obama will travel to Texas and Missouri later this week to make his pitch for the bill and to raise funds for his reelection bid. Next Tuesday, he will hold jobs events in Orlando, Fla., and Pittsburgh, officials say."

It sure seems wise that the president has a couple fundraisers lined up! After all, it's not likely that this tour will help pass the bill, which seems destined to fail.

The problem is not (just) the Republicans whom the president hopes to pressure on this trip. It is, indeed, the Democrats who do not seem sold on the value of this bill. 

As WLS AM reported last week: 

WLS Radio’s Bill Cameron reports his own party has delayed action in the Senate and talked with Senator Dick Durbin, the number two Democrat in the Senate, about the reason why.

“The oil-producing state senators don’t like eliminating or reducing the subsidy for oil companies, “ Durbin tells WLS Radio, “There are some senators who are up for election who say I’m never gonna vote for a tax increase while I’m up for election, even on the wealthiest people. So, we’re not gonna have 100% Democratic senators. That’s why it needs to be bi-partisan and I hope we can find some Republicans who will join us to make it happen.”

But so far, Durbin concedes Democrats don’t have the votes in the senate to pass it, “Not at the moment, I don’t think we do but, uh, we can work on it.”

The Democrats have the majority in the Senate. The Republicans aren't needed to pass this bill (at least, in the Senate).