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Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., makes clear to the St. Louis Beacon that she won't be running and hiding from President Obama, even as she faces a tough reelection bid in a state the president's almost certainly not going to win.

McCaskill said she will be asking Obama to stump for her and help her raise money, but added that she doesn't always agree with him.

Vulnerable Democrats in comparable positions should take notice. Opponents will tie McCaskill to Obama no matter what she does: She was a major surrogate in 2008 and there are plenty of photos of the two for TV ads (Republican John Brunner has already run one tying the two together). Running away from Obama will only generate negative press coverage (when McCaskill missed an early October Obama fundraiser, that was a story).

Another way of looking at it: If you are going to be tied to an unpopular president, you may as well let him use his standing to help you raise some money along the way.