Democratic governors urge Obama to focus on economic concerns

February 22, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic governors said Sunday they worry about President Barack Obama’s track record on fighting Republican political attacks and urged him to better connect with anxious voters. Some allies pleaded for a new election-year strategy focused on the economy.

“It’s got to be better thought out,” Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said. “It’s got to be more proactive.” And, he said, Democrats must hit back just as hard as they are hit by Republicans.

Eight months before the first midterm elections of Obama’s presidency, most Americans are frustrated with — even angered by — persistent unemployment and gridlock in Washington. Democrats fear voters will punish the party in power.

The titular head of his party, Obama has watched his own popularity drop over the past year. He will bear at least some responsibility for the outcome in November, and Democrats are looking to him for political fixes.

In interviews at the National Governors Association’s weekend meeting, several Democratic governors faulted the White House for losing the communications war against Republicans over what Obama has accomplished in his first year.

“We fought back only sporadically and pretty ineffectively,” Rendell said, adding that “right out of the box, we lost the spin war” on the $787 billion economic stimulus bill passed in 2009.

Several Democratic colleagues agreed and lamented that voters thought Obama focused too much on overhauling the U.S. health-care system. Others fretted that Obama may appear to be out of touch with the concerns of Americans.

“I think he’s got more work to do on that,” said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, an Obama friend and ally.

Even as they raised concerns, Democratic governors insisted that the White House has started turning things around. “The stars are aligning,” said Delaware Gov. Jack Markell.

Gov. Mike Beebe of Arkansas urged Obama to focus more on the economy and limit his actions on the health-care system to changes that would bring down the cost of medical treatment in the United States.

He called Obama’s poll numbers “terrible” in Arkansas because voters don’t think he’s focused on their top priority, the economy. “People are unhappy,” he said. “Now, in fairness, he didn’t create this problem, but they want to see him fix it.”

Though praising the White House’s communication’s efforts, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson offered this advice to Obama: “Rapidly decide what we’re doing on health care and then move to jobs and the economy.”

“We need a national economic strategy,” he added.

Among the most-vulnerable Democratic incumbents, Patrick said he and Obama faced the same vexing political issue in 2009: They were so busy dealing with an economic crisis that it was hard to stay in touch with voters.

“If you don’t know what happens at the point where policy touches people, you’ve got a problem,” the Massachusetts governor said.

Patrick said he will connect better with voters on the campaign trail, making sure they know that he understands their plight. He suspects Obama will do the same while campaigning for Democrats.

Obama has other challenges.

Patrick said Obama must walk a fine line between pushing back on Republican criticism and not looking overly partisan. “If you don’t hit the bully back, you’re just going to keep getting hit,” Patrick said. “On the other hand, people don’t want that tit for tat.”

He said he hasn’t been in touch with the White House communications team but noted, “I’m sure they’re struggling with that.”