Craig Crawford on CQ Politics:

The President’s supporters don’t automatically vote for someone just because he asks them to. We saw this trend again on Tuesday. Sen. Arlen Specter had counted on White House backing, but lost Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary.

Of course, it didn’t help that Obama dodged last minute campaigning for Specter, despite flying over his state en route to Ohio on Election Day. Still, Obama’s team had done enough for the ex-Republican’s reelection bid to take a hit for the loss — which will complicate future efforts to gain party switchers for the Democratic column.

Starting with last year’s governor races in Virginia and New Jersey, we’ve seen the trend. Republicans swept both elections notwithstanding Obama’s vigorous campaigning for the Democratic candidates. The White House also could not save Ted Kennedy‘s senate seat.

Chances are that the many new voters who gave Obama the edge in his own election will show up the next time his name is on the ballot. If the President has a political machine, it cranks out only one product — him.

I wonder where I’ve heard that before…