I believe the rats in the Democrat party are fleeing the sinking Obama ship. The latest casualty is Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, a staunch supporter of Barack Obama (she was an early endorser of Obama in 2008, and a surrogate for his campaign). Three Democrat Senators, eight Democrat members of Congress and the Democrat governor of West Virginia have bailed on attending the Democratic National Convention to be held in Charlotte, N.C. in August. These people hail from states where Obama is very unpopular and they have decided not to attend the convention and risk being contaminated by the president. Steve Israel, the head of the Democratic Congressional Committee suggested that those up for re-election not attend and instead spend time in their home districts.

The Democrats are facing other problems. The Democratic National Convention has a budget of $36 million but has only raised $10 million. A lot of the big donors in 2008 are staying away this time. As a result, to save money, they have cut out a day of events. One of them a big Obama rally at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Wayne Farber

Bellingham