For Democrats, today's visit by President Obama brings in some much-needed cash and generates some much-needed enthusiasm among the party base.
But it's also a gift for Republicans, who are looking for any chance they get to tie Richard Blumenthal and his fellow Democratic candidates to the policies of a once-popular president who's approval ratings in Connecticut has taken a significant hit.
"People are hurting here and its because of the President's policies,'' state GOP Chairman Chris Healy said in a conference call with reporters this morning.
Having the president in the state is "a great honor,'' Healy said. "He's still the president."
But Obama's brief visit also "highlight[s] the problems we have here in Connecticut,'' Healy said. "It reminds people in Connecticut of Obama's policies...it reminds people of how the economy is still hurting."