The Hill News

Democrats running in tough reelection races this fall are wrong to keep their distance from President Obama, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine said Monday.

Kaine touted the work the Obama administration has done to help bring the economy out of the deep recession, saying it will also help Democrats politically.

{mosads}Asked by NBC's "Today" show host Matt Lauer why some candidates "don't want to be seen with him," Kaine replied, "Well, I think the candidates who are worried about it are making a mistake, because I think this president still is doing the great work that the Americans expect of him."

Some Democrats running in conservative districts have steered clear of Obama, whose agenda they fear might not play well among voters with unemployment still hovering at 9.5 percent. 

House Democrats recently have had several tense moments with the White House, especially after press secretary Robert Gibbs admitted there is ! "no doubt" the GOP can win back the House. Several weeks ago, Democratic leaders asked for Obama to be more active in House campaigns.

Kaine acknowledged that he has had discussions with the president about the midterms, describing them as "very tough." But he said Democrats are doing the work to restore the economy, while Republicans want to revert to past policies.

"Democrats have been doing the work necessary to get the nation going again. As the president says, the car was in the ditch," he said. "We're getting it out of the ditch with job creation, with a new energy strategy, with infrastructure investments.

"What is the alternative?" he said. "When the â€" when the Republicans were in control during the Lost Decade, Americans lost 8 million jobs. We gained 700,000 private-sector jobs this year. We're growing again."