Even in this winter of President Obama's discon tent, things appear likely to get much bleaker for him before they get any better.The first casualties were Democratic governors who fell in New Jersey and Virginia. Then it was Camelot, seized by the enemy in Massachusetts. These Republican encroachments deep in Democratic territory appeared almost effortless. Obama's pleas on behalf of Democratic candidates -- words of gold just one year ago -- fell like millstones around their necks.
Today in Illinois, voters go to the polls, poised to send another stinging message to their adopted son. Eager to deliver a thundering rebuke to the corrupt Democratic machine from which Obama emerged in Chicago, voters are very close to booting Gov. Pat Quinn in his own party's primary.
Even more ominous for Obama today is that voters will choose which Republican and which Democrat will face off in the general election to fill Obama's old Senate seat. If all goes as widely expected, Republicans today will pick Rep. Mark Kirk, an experienced centrist, and Democrats will pick Alexi Giannoulias, an Obama pal and state treasurer. In a general election, Giannoulias -- who, through his family's bank, has shady ties to mob figures -- will become a seamy stand-in for Obama.
Things are so bad that even in Obama's alleged birthplace of Hawaii, Republicans are seriously talking about winning the House seat being vacated by a Democrat who wants to run for governor. The only place where Obama has roots that doesn't seem to be sick and tired of him these days is Kenya. Don't be surprised if Republicans start fielding candidates there soon.