His agenda potentially imperiled by the outcome of a close U.S. Senate race, President Obama focused his attention and prestige Sunday on Massachusetts Democrat Martha Coakley, whose bid to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has gone from shoo-in to nail-biter.
Obama joined Coakley at a Sunday afternoon rally at Northeastern University in Boston as the race entered the final stretch.
It was the latest and highest profile assist for Coakley, the state attorney general facing a strong challenge from Scott Brown, a Republican state senator.
Coakley campaigned Saturday with Kennedy’s widow, Vicki, who has also appeared in a TV ad for Coakley. On Friday, thousands attended a rally for Coakley headlined by former President Bill Clinton and the state’s senior senator, John Kerry.
Even in Massachusetts, a solidly Democratic state represented by the proudly liberal Kennedy for nearly 47 years, Brown has ridden a wave of populist anger over Obama’s health care overhaul, taxes and government spending.
Only a blip in the polls until recently, Brown has captivated Republicans and many independents by his promise to slow the Obama agenda in Washington.
Polls show the race too close to call for Tuesday’s special election.
Campaigning Saturday, Coakley called Obama’s visit “pretty cool” but said it didn’t indicate her candidacy was in trouble.
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Earlier, in Washington …
President Obama on Sunday recalled the work of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. as he urged those packing a Baptist church to take heart in hard times and celebrate progress — however small.
