The Obama Factor: How the President's Star Power Could Hurt Vulnerable Democrats

Iowa's a swing state and where Obama got his start, making it a likely campaign stop for the president, Hagle says.

But Hagle warns that Obama must think to the future and be careful not to disrupt a sensitive congressional race between incumbent Democrat Rep. Leonard Boswell and incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Latham who are facing off in a newly-formed district.

"I think where Obama could hurt is if you have a Democrat incumbent that is in a tough race," Hagle says. "He is going to want to have Democrats in control and he is going to have to be somewhat strategic about it. Maybe it is not always helpful for him to be in a particular place at a particular time."

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