Dems, Obama, head into 2014 distant, determined

Many Democrats in Congress worried about the party's re-election prospects are for the first time distancing themselves from President Barack Obama after the disastrous rollout of his health care overhaul.
At issue, said several Obama allies, is a loss of trust in the president after only 106,000 people instead of an anticipated half million were able to buy insurance coverage the first month of the new "Obamacare" websites, which were crippled by technical glitches and froze computer screens across America. In addition, some 4.2 million Americans received notices from insurers that policies Obama had promised they could keep were being cancelled.

The debacle has marked a stunningly swift downturn in the fortunes of the Democrats. Just six weeks ago, the party had emerged at the top of its game from a government shutdown that a majority of Americans had blamed on the Republicans and their ill-fated attempt to derail the health care program, which is intended to extend affordable insurance to millions of Americans who lack it. Republicans say taxes and penalties associated with the law are hurting businesses and jobs.
The political stakes are huge ahead of congressional elections next year. Already, Republicans are launching a drive to link virtually every congressional Democrat to the troubles of the 3-year-old health law, Obama's most significant domestic policy achievement. In the House, it's about denying Democrats the 17-seat gain they would need to win back the majority. In the Senate, it's about gaining the six seats Republicans need to take control of that chamber.

"Folks are now, I think in talking to members, more cautious with regard to dealing with the president," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, who has been the White House's biggest defender in the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee, which has waged a war against the Obama administration on health care and other issues.
Cummings said he still thinks Obama is operating with integrity, but he noted that not all his Democratic colleagues agree.
Rep. William Lacy Clay, like Cummings, a prominent member of the Congressional Black Caucus who personally likes Obama, struggled to describe the state of play between congressional Democrats and the president.

"I am trying to think if you can call it a relationship at this point," he said.