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**Written by guest-blogger Doug Powers

Democrats up for re-election this year are fully aware of President Obama’s campaign record, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Pennsylvania, where at least five Democrats have taken the “uh, I can’t make it because I gotta re-arrange my sock drawer” out in response to the invitation to Obama’s speech at Carnegie Mellon this afternoon:

Congressmen Jason Altmire and Tim Murphy have previous engagements. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and Rep. Mike Doyle are out of town on anniversary trips with their wives. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato will be campaigning in Philadelphia.

When President Obama and Sen. Arlen Specter land at Pittsburgh International Airport today, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will receive them by himself.

The rest of the region’s top elected officials declined White House invitations to attend Obama’s speech at Carnegie Mellon University this afternoon, their offices said.

Even Obama’s teleprompter tried to bail but reconsidered after being reminded that it is under contract, and if it didn’t show up, Eric Holder threatened to prosecute TOTUS to the fullest extent of whatever applicable laws the AG hasn’t read yet.

The president is following through on a promise to Democrats (note: Tim Murphy, listed above, is a Republican) that he made in March:

At the same time, Obama intends to lobby wavering House Democrats to vote for a Senate version of the legislation and to support the subsequent reconciliation process, which Republicans have characterized as an unjustified use of majority power. Among the rewards Obama is ready to offer, White House officials said, are election-year visits to competitive congressional districts, where a presidential appearance can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds.

I guess hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds don’t matter if you think it’s being handed to you by the Grim Reaper.

In other news, President Obama is going to meet with Paul McCartney tonight to see if the former Beatle has any suggestions about how to stop the oil leak in the gulf.

Perhaps the cruelest irony of the horrible Gulf oil spill is that Obama is finally able to live up to the hype and walk on water, but the reason might be his undoing. Then again, maybe not.

Update: Speaking of feeling lonely… There’s somebody in Florida who could use a hug. Oh wait, that was the problem in the first place.

**Written by guest-blogger Doug Powers

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