The Hill News

Democrats still have plenty of ground to make up between now and Election Day, President Obama's political guru said Thursday.

David Plouffe, the manager of Obama's presidential campaign, said that he wouldn't want the fall's midterm elections to be held today, if he had a choice.

"We're beginning to see signs of progress out there," Plouffe said at a pre-election briefing for reporters. "We really have, the last month."

Democrats have sought to craft a message in the closing weeks of the campaign revolving around a comeback narrative, which they assert has begun to take shape.

Vice President Biden last week said the party has started to reverse its slide, and the Democratic National Committee trumpeted its $16 million month in September as a sign of rebound.

But Plouffe acknowledged there was still a lot of work to do -- though he wouldn't quantify how much.

"I don't think any of us would like for the elec! tion to be called tomorrow," he said.

Key to making up that ground, Obama's adviser said, would be mobilizing Democratic volunteers and making a play for undecided and independent voters.

Plouffe also asserted that the GOP wouldn't be able to make one last push for votes in the closing weeks of the campaign.

"I do think the Republicans have maxed out, or close to it, fairly early in the cycle," he said.

Updated 2:39 p.m.