Feeling Blue: Democratic Senators Facing Tough Elections in Red States—PICTURES

By National Journal Staff

Updated: February 9, 2012 | 9:16 a.m.
February 2, 2012 | 10:10 p.m.

Senate Democrats are hoping they can keep their majority in the upper chamber, but for a handful of the 23 seats at stake for the Democrats, maintaining the majority means more than riding President Obama's coattails, if indeed he has any. Instead, at the state level, where Obama is unpopular, some candidates will claim independence, reports National Journal's Dan Friedman. Here's a look at those senators:

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Political Hurdle: Free-trade pacts signed in the 112th Congress are unpopular in Ohio. Brown has asked President Obama to "work with us" on that.

PHOTO: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. Political Hurdle: Like Brown, Casey comes from a state where the trade agreements the president worked on with Congress are unpopular. Casey touts his support for get-tough legislation on currency manipulation.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. Political Hurdle: Keeping as far away from Obama as possible. Manchin came to the Senate 15 months ago and aims at avoiding association with the president. "That's not my style," he said when asked if the president ever called him.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. Political Hurdle: Contrasting her views with Obama's where appropriate. "There are places I agree with the president. There are places I disagree with the president," she said.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Sen. Bill Nelson D-Fla. Political Hurdle: Nelson, like Casey, could benefit from the financial and organizational help from Obama, but has to distance himself from some administration policies.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Brendan Farrington

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. Political Hurdle: Stabenow comes from a protectionist state where crackdowns on China's currency manipulation and free-trade agreements are not popular.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. Political Hurdle: Senate Democratic leadership and the administration favor the Dream Act, unpopular with conservatives in states like Montana. Some Democratic strategists worry that the act might inspire conservative opponents more than Democratic supporters.

PHOTO: Liz Lynch

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