Obama fails behind the scenes

October 2, 11:02 AMCongress ExaminerIgor Derysh

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Jim Messina is Obama's Karl Rove. (AP Photo)

While the White House is struggling to pass key legislation despite a filibuster-proof majority, his administration also appears to be failing to succeed behind the scenes. 

According to the Denver Post, Jim Messina, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Obama, attempted to circumvent a primary challenge to Senator Michael Bennet in Colorado by offering his would-be opponent, Andrew Romanoff, a job in the administration. 

Proving yet again that the Obama White House does not have the type of political muscle in their own party that Bush did, Romanoff declined Messina's offer and quickly announced that he would indeed be running in the Democratic Primary for the Senate seat. 

Romanoff is the former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives. He is something of a 4-A player in the party, too good for the minor leagues but not quite good enough for the majors. He was considered by the White House for a job in the administration and by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter for the Senate seat vacated by now-Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar but was rejected both times. 

The story was seldom mentioned on any of the news networks because it is too "wonkish" for the public but did make another blow to the Obama camp who was recently caught asking New York Governor David Paterson not to run for re-election and was declined then too.