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 Reminding Democrats at a fundraiser in Boston that "we got
whalloped" in the 2010 midterms, when Republicans took control of
the U.S. House of Representatives, Obama warned that "it could
happen again if we don't fight on behalf of the things we care about
in this election."
"No one could be more invested than me in having a Democrat succeed
me," Obama told about 70 supporters at a dinner where tickets cost
$5,000 to $20,000. But he stressed to Democrats they need to invest
time, money and energy on the November midterms.
"In the midterms, Democrats too often don't vote. Too often, when
there's not a presidential election, we don't think it's sexy, we
don't think it's interesting, people tune out," Obama said.
A third of the 100-member Senate is up for grabs in November
elections as well as all 435 seats in the Republican-controlled
House of Representatives.
Republicans believe they have a good chance to pick up the six seats
they need to take control of the Senate based on public
dissatisfaction with Obama.
The Boston event was one of 30 fundraisers the president plans to
headline through June.
Earlier on Wednesday, in Cambridge, Mass., Obama held a private
roundtable discussion with about 25 supporters at up to $32,400 per
ticket, organized by the Democratic National Committee.
Obama told supporters that the policies he is promoting are popular
with voters, such as raising the minimum wage.
"It's common sense, that's all I'm trying to say. It's just common
sense," Obama said in a campaign-style speech to about 3,000 people
at the Central Connecticut State University, just outside of
Hartford earlier on Wednesday.
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Obama has proposed raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per
hour, up from the current level of $7.25, which he said would lift
wages for 28 million people. Three-quarters of Americans agree it
should be hiked.
"It would immediately raise millions of people out of poverty. It
would help millions more work their way out of poverty. And it
doesn't require new taxes, doesn't require new spending, doesn't
require some vast bureaucracy," Obama said.
Connecticut has already raised its state minimum wage above $7.25,
and Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy is seeking to hike it again to
$10.10.
Republicans have objected to the plan to raise the minimum wage,
bolstered by a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget
Office, which said the plan could lead to 500,000 fewer jobs.
"We know beyond dispute that raising the minimum wage will destroy
jobs for people who need them the most. When folks are still
struggling to find work in this economy, why would we make that any
harder?" said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Republican Speaker John
Boehner, in a statement.
(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; editing by Tom Brown and Ken Wills)
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