McCaskill, more Democrats opt to skip convention

Updated 9:45 p.m. ET

(CBS News) Sen. Claire McCaskill, the first-term Missouri Democrat in a tough re-election battle, is the latest Democrat to decide to skip the Democratic National Convention in September, Talking Points Memo reports. President Obama will formally receive the party's presidential nomination at the event.

The senator's campaign reportedly said McCaskill routinely skips the national convention when she's up for re-election, as she did in 2004 during her Missouri gubernatorial bid. Still, the Republican Party was quick to point out that McCaskill's absence will stand in stark contrast to her presence at the 2008 convention, where she was a speaker.

The senator joins North Dakota senate candidate Heidi Heitkamp - whose spokesperson said she will spend the time campaigning - and a handful of other vulnerable Democrats avoiding the president's official nomination.

Earlier this month, the West Virginia Democratic Party announced three Democrats -- Sen. Joe Manchin, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Rep. Nick Rahall -- aren't planning on joining West Virginia's delegation. The president is notoriously unpopular in the state, as evidenced by the West Virginia primary earlier this year in which he lost 41 percent of the vote to a convicted felon.

Additionally, New York Reps. Kathy Hochul and Bill Owens recently told The Daily they're skipping the event. While Owens' campaign said the congressman has a "packed schedule," Hochul told The Daily, "I guarantee that my time will be better spent meeting the farmers, small business owners and other people who put me here."

Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is also skipping the convention, the Hill reports. His Republican challenger, Rep. Denny Rehberg, is skipping the Republican convention where Mitt Romney is expected to receive his party's presidential nomination.

Democratic Rep. Mark Critz of Pennsylvania is also opting to stay on the campaign trail in lieu of going to the convention. Critz's campaign spokesman told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the decision was "pretty easy" given how unpopular Mr. Obama appears to be in Critz's newly-drawn district.

[liberalmike]

She even looks like a republican in disguise or worse,
Traitor!!!!

[oneslownewsday1]

You know the Democrats are scared when they Dis each other and don't want to be in the same state of their convention.
Obama sunk the Democratic Party all by himself with out the help of The Tea Party and Boehner and the House Republicans.
"FOWARD" to destruction like Custer and the 7th Cavalry to the Little Big Horn!
LOL!

[wfw3536]

The truth is she knows the Obama ship is sinking. Her state used to be a battleground state, now the Dems are pulling out most of their resources and have pretty much thrown in the towel.

[112844]

I am an Independnt. I will never be a Republican ever again, too much lying and failed polocies. But, this action by the spineless Democrates is why I also left the Democrate party. I applaud the fundimentals of what both partie used to be. Now days, both parties stink, lying, abusive Republicans and gutless,cowardly Democrates.

[RealWorldNow]

The problem also lies with the fact that Republicans are sometimes gutless and the democrats are abusive liars.

[alanrobisch]

interesting not a single dem is interested in this story I wonder why

[bluedogmatt]

I am a Dem and am interested. It is a shame that Dems have no backbone. It is the Republicans who should be running to the hills and should be embarrassed to admit they are righties. It is the Republican's policies of deregulation and tax cuts that led to the financial crisis and the fiscal calamity we find ourselves in now. It is Republican obtructionism that has held up progress on the economy. Obama has shrunk government more than any president since Eisenhower. He has not raised taxes. He has not imposed any gun regulation. He has been strong on foreign policy. His debt to GDP ratio is lower than Bush's. Stop believeing the Fox News dribble. Dems should have the spine to stick to their guns. It is their failure speak to average Americans in terms they can understand and their willingness to shrink from Republican attacks that threatens the Obama reelection. Not reality.

[MurdochSucks]

I she isn't going to attend the conventions during re-election years, why does she ever attend them? Sort of a ruse; it is this very trait that makes Democrats look weak and spineless. They need a staunch call from the Republican playbook. Stand up for what you believe, instead of cowering to pressure from fringe right-wing nut bars, and their intimidation techniques.

[joseLopez12]

haha obama ship is sinking. Demi's start the impeachment process to save your jobs before obama gets put on ice by Issa. Man ya'll gonna be crying when obama fails and he blames ya'll for it.

[tb91006]

Looks like they are sick of the presidents illegal power grab as well or they are just trying to get re-elected. In any event the democrat party will soon be irrelevant with the left wing nutjobs running the party.

[liberalmike]

The wingnuts are in the republican party dufus!

[CurmudgeonHouse]

More Demo-Rats jumping the sinking Obama and Party garbage scow being hauled out to sea to be dumped this November!
More bad news lefties and Dumocrats.
Get out now while the getting is good!

[liberalmike]

Liberal for life!