Dems Face Dismal November: Its a crapshoot … Its not just an anti-Dem year.

Democrats becoming increasingly nervous. Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C.  Democrats are increasingly realizing that President Obamas approval rating will probably remain mired at 45 or lower until Election Day giving Republicans plenty of ammo to take back the U.S. Senate & make further gains in the U.S. House. As their difficulties mounted Senate Democrats met with the president at the White House on Wednesday evening.   Republicans are in the strongest position to win back the Senate since losing it eight years ago. Over several months the party has expanded its range of targeted seats and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has helped defeat insurgents it didnt want representing the GOP in the midterm elections. As a result a sober realization came to Democrats on Wednesday as Tuesday nights primary results showed they cannot count on Tea Party candidates upsetting more-electable incumbents. A Democratic senator facing reelection this November said Obamas low approval rating has put a strain on his relationship with allies in Congress.

I think the relationship us being frank with each other and talking is good but the troubling thing for Democrats especially in red states is the presidents unpopularity which doesnt seem to be coming up" said the lawmaker who requested anonymity. Its a tense time."

The White House says it has set in motion a plan by which the president is effectively distinguishing Democratic candidates from Republicans. Campaign experts however say that will be challenging especially as red-state Democrats seek distance from the president.

 Most troubling for Ds? Being vulnerable in places that should not even be competitive

Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.) perhaps the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent said she would confront Obama over his failure to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline and expand natural gas exports. I personally dont agree with this White House on everything" she said. I have a divergent view on a lot of the energy policies." Earlier this week Sen. Claire McCaskill (Mo.) another red-state Democrat vented her irritation with the administration when she called IRS Commissioner John Koskinen (at left being questioned earlier this week by Texas Cong. Kevin Brady) arrogant." Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) and other Democrats criticized Obamas recent decision to release five senior Taliban commanders from the prison at Guantnamo Bay Cuba. She is ready to put that dispute into the past she said Wednesday adding that Obama made the right move in inviting his colleagues to the White House for talk and cocktails. Its all ancient history now" she said peaceably adding I think this is a positive thing to do." But a Democratic strategist said: Theres going to be a lot of vocal anger and frustration. Theyre going to hear a lot of You guys have got to have your house in order."

 No matter how you look at it Senate Ds Face Quite a Fight in November.

Details of Wednesdays discussion were not available at press time. But it is clear Democrats are nervous. After Republicans flopped in the last two Senate election cycles the GOP establishment fought and frequently defeated the Tea Party candidates that Democrats hoped to face. Meanwhile conservative non-party committees have already spent $68.2 million this cycle according to the Center for Responsive Politics and Americans for Prosperity a group backed by Charles and David Koch has pledged $125 million against Democratic candidates. After having failed to take the Senate the last couple cycles the other side is pulling out all the stops and that has raised awareness among Democrats about the outcome of the election. The political money has raised that level of awareness" said David Di Martino a Democratic strategist.

Its a crapshoot. … Its not just an anti-Dem year its an anti year and we dont know how its going to play out" said John Anzalone a Democratic pollster. I dont think the Republican nominees are all that theyre cracked up to be."

Sen. Thad Cochrans (R) surprise victory Tuesday in the Mississippi primary deprived Democrats of what they expected to be a bright spot in the general elections. Sen. Charles Schumer (above-right with Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid D-N.Y.) predicted a few weeks ago that Democratic candidate Travis Childers would have a real chance" if he faced Tea Party candidate Chris McDaniel instead of Cochran. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chairman Michael Bennet (Colo.) acknowledged Republicans nominated the more electable candidate" in Mississippi but he tried to identify a silver lining saying it wasnt necessarily a setback because our candidates are well inside the mainstream of conventional American political thought." While Tea Party candidates have failed to upset GOP establishment candidates in Mississippi Kentucky Iowa Georgia Oklahoma and North Carolina Bennet said contested primaries have pushed establishment candidates into extreme positions. Obama has done 10 fundraising events for the DSCC and four additional joint events with the Senate campaign arm and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Schumer said Wednesday that Obama will play a crucial role this fall touting the Democrats populist economic agenda. Still independent handicappers say the GOP has a better than 50 chance of taking control of the Senate.