UPPER MARLBORO Md. (Reuters) - President Barack Obama made a rare
appearance on the campaign trail on Sunday with a rally to support the
Democratic candidate for governor in Maryland, but early departures of crowd
members while he spoke underscored his continuing unpopularity.
With approval levels hovering around record lows, Obama has spent most
of his campaign-related efforts this year raising money for struggling
Democrats, who risk losing control of the U.S. Senate in the Nov. 4 midterm
election.
Most candidates from his party have been wary of appearing with him
during their election races because of his sagging popularity.
Not so Lieutenant Governor
Anthony Brown of Maryland, who is running for governor, and Governor Pat Quinn
of Illinois, who is running for re-election. Obama plans to appear at an event
for Quinn later in the evening.
"You've got to vote,"
Obama repeated over and over at a rally for Brown in Upper Marlboro, Maryland,
near Washington.
Democrats have a history of not turning up to vote in midterm
elections.
"There are no excuses.
The future is up to us," Obama said.
A steady stream of people
walked out of the auditorium while he spoke, however, and a heckler interrupted
his remarks.
Obama's help, or lack
thereof, may not matter much to Brown, who is 11 points ahead of Republican
opponent Larry Hogan, according to an average of polls by RealClearPolitics.
Quinn's race is tighter. He
is ahead of Republican opponent Bruce Rauner by 1.8 points, according to the
RealClearPolitics average.
Obama is scheduled to spend
the night at his Chicago home after the campaign event for Quinn.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason;
Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
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