RhodesCook.com

One question that may be well to ask about President Obama's campaign trip to Massachusetts today is whether it might do more harm than good. His appearance feeds into the populist, "man against the machine" story line of Republican senatorial candidate Scott Brown. And if the 2008 presidential primary is a guide, Obama has never been that popular even among Massachusetts Democrats.

Boasting support from the Kennedys, John Kerry and Gov. Deval Patrick, Obama was still trounced in the Bay State primary two years ago by a margin of 15 percentage points. Hillary Clinton defeated him handily in nine of the state's 10 congressional districts, with Obama winning only the 8th District, which includes the liberal academic center of Cambridge.

To be sure, Obama carried Massachusetts by 26 percentage points in the 2008 general election. But there are signs that it was more a generic Democratic vote than a rousing pro-Obama showing. His 61.8% of the vote in Massachusetts made it his eight best state, its lowest ranking for any Democratic presidential candidate since 1956 - with the two exceptions of 1980 and 1992 when Southern Democrats headed the ticket.

Given all this, it may be good for Obama to be aware today while campaigning in Massachusetts of the ancient warning to physicians: First, do no harm.

This blog was initially posted in Politico's Arena section on Jan. 17, 2010.