Obama hits road hard for midterms

President Obama will spend most of next week on the road in a furious effort to boost Democrats with just three weeks before the midterm elections.

Obama will be barnstorming through eight states and from coast to coast to raise funds for embattled Democratic candidates for the House and Senate and in gubernatorial races.

{mosads}White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Tuesday laid out much of Obama’s campaign schedule, including a West Coast swing that will keep Obama out of Washington for a few days.

Obama was in Miami Monday night raising funds for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and he continues his travels on Friday, joining Vice President Joe Biden for a fundraiser in Wilmington for Delaware Senate candidate Chris Coons.

On Saturday, the president travels to Boston for an event with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

Then on Sunday, the president brings in the heavy hitter, first lady Michelle Obama, to join him in Cleveland and Columbus for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

The Cleveland event represents the first time the Obamas are appearing together at a political rally since 2008.

“She’s obviously very effective,” Gibbs said.

On Oct. 20, the president kicks off his trip out West, beginning in Portland, Ore., where he will rally with John Kitzhaber, the Democratic candidate for governor.

On Thursday, Obama stays in the Pacific Northwest, holding an official event in addition to a campaign event in Seattle for Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) before heading to San Francisco for a DNC event.

Then on Friday, the president will be in Los Angeles for events with Sen. Barbara Boxer and the DNC before heading to Las Vegas for a DNC event and a joint event for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and embattled Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

Obama wraps up that leg of the swing in Minnesota with events for gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton and the DCCC.

The president will likely add events between Oct. 25, when Obama travels to Rhode Island for a DCCC event, and the Nov. 2 elections.