AP Covers NN10: "Democrats wary of motivation problem with liberals"

David Fox, an Army veteran, at home in Montana. He uses medical marijuana to help quiet the pain from neuropathy
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Michael R. Blood (AP):

The Democratic Party has a motivation problem.

Party officials acknowledged low morale within their left wing and urged liberal bloggers and activists Friday to keep faith with President Barack Obama in an election year as Democrats brace for losses in Congress.

"We need to find a way to get our voters really engaged in this election," Democratic National Committee executive director Jennifer O'Malley Dillon said at the annual Netroots Nation convention. "It's more important, every single day, to know what's at stake

Jon Vogel, executive director of the Democratic House campaign organization, predicted Democratic voters would get energized when they focus on what Republican gains would mean for the Democratic agenda.

"You start to educate folks as to differences in candidates, the enthusiasm gap certainly will close," Vogel said.

Liberals who helped put Obama in the White House in 2008 are disillusioned over the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, slow movement on gay rights and the failure to create a government-run insurance option in the health care overhaul.

The racially tinged furor surrounding the ouster of Agriculture Department official Shirley Sherrod, who was forced to resign but later received a personal apology and job offer from Obama, left many feeling the White House was manipulated by the conservative media.

"People are in a down mood," said Michael Lux, who heads Progressive Strategies, a Washington-based consulting firm. MORE...

Howie P.S.: Meanwhile, a dash of good news from the NY Times: "V.A. Easing Rules for Users of Medical Marijuana." (see photo above)