Another One: Mo Senator Claire McCaskill May Skip Dem Convention – Sept. Schedule “in Flux” (Updated with More)

The Weekly Standard reports that Missouri senator Claire McCaskill,  may well skip the Democratic convention in September. For those keeping score, this brings the the number of Democrats avoiding their own party’s convention like the plague, to at least eight. Last week, Michelle Malkin reported on what she labeled the Tarheel trainwreck: The coming DNC disaster:

…at least seven Democratic officials will skip Obama-palooza: New York Democratic Reps. Bill Owens and Kathy Hochul; Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Mark Critz; three endangered Democratic politicians from West Virginia, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Sen. Joe Manchin, and Rep. Nick Rahall; and Utah Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson.

The Democratic boycotters have dinged Obama on everything from his election-year illegal alien amnesty power grab to his failed jobs programs to his destructive war on coal. While “Forward!” may be the official Obama campaign slogan, “Back Away!” is quickly becoming the dissenting Democrats’ rallying cry.

According to the Saint Louis Beacon, “A campaign aide said the senator’s schedule for September was still in flux. McCaskill expects to be in a tough re-election battle.”

McCaskill had missed the state Democratic convention several weeks ago because her mother has been ill. She did make the party’s biggest fundraising event of the year, the Jefferson-Jackson dinner, last Friday.

Juan Williams writing for Fox News helpfully explains;

A weak presidential candidate at the top of the ticket does not usually help anyone on the ticket. But in this election cycle conservative Democrats obviously see their political fortunes as separate from Obama’s.

One of those conservative Democrats, Sen. Claire McCaskill, is locked in a tough reelection fight in Missouri, a state Obama lost in 2008. In addition to backing away from the president on the budget deal, she is also backing away on immigration policy changes allowing young illegal immigrants in high school or the military to avoid deportation.

“My preference would be for Congress to resolve this issue …,” McCaskill said. “I’ll be looking at the details of this announcement closely to ensure it isn’t a magnet for illegal immigration.”

McCaskill is distancing herself from the president in the hope of persuading swing voters that she is more of an independent than a Democrat.

A Rasmussen poll taken earlier this month found McCaskill losing to her likely GOP opponent by 12 points. McCaskill needs independent voters and she does not see the Obama brand helping her cause.

It’s interesting that Juan would characterize McCaskill as a “conservative” Democrat when her voting record is anything but.

UPDATE:

Montana’s John Tester (D, Mont) jumping off the sinking ship, too.

Charlotte now more radioactive than Chernobyl.

UPDATE II:

Weekly Standard: Endangered Georgia Democratic Congressman Skipping Convention:

 John Barrow, the Georgia Democrat, looks to be following the lead of Claire McCaskill of Missouri, and Joe Manchin and Earl Ray Tomblin of West Virginia and will not be attending the Democratic National Convention. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:

WASHINGTON—Augusta U.S. Rep. John Barrow will skip the Democratic National Convention in September, adding to a growing list of Democrats distancing themselves from the national party’s major quadrennial get-together.

That brings the number of major Democrats skipping the Democrat Convention to 10.

See Also:

RE Claire McCaskill  and Jon Tester…

The Daily Caller: Flashback: Senators who plan to skip Democratic convention praised Obama in 2008 –

While both lawmakers say they’re missing out on the chance to attend President Barack Obama’s formal re-nomination for president to concentrate on their own re-election campaigns, observers note that it makes sense for them to keep Obama at an arm’s length.

That differs from just four years ago when both attended the 2008 convention in Denver.

“I have seen Barack Obama in the Senate,” McCaskill said at the convention. “I have been by his side campaigning in diners and coffee shops. I know he will bring the change we need in Washington.”

Linked by Michelle Malkin, and Doug Ross, thanks!