On day McCaskill says she's skipping DNC, John Kerry sends out email asking for contributions to her campaign

Don't look for McCaskill in Charlotte

Like Joe Biden, John Kerry is burdened with the curse of constantly doing the wrong thing at the wrong time.

The latest instance is an email blast from JohnKerry.com calling for his fellow Democrats to open up their wallets for embattled Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who faces a deservedly tough reelection fight.

But earlier today it was reported that the Missouri liberal, who voted for the unpopular ObamaCare and stimulus bills, will continue to distance herself from the president. McCaskill is the latest prominent Dem to announce that she is skipping the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

She is claiming she can't break away from her campaign--and while McCaskill skipped Kerry's coronation in 2004, she was a candidate for governor that year and faced a fall primary election and then the general. McCaskill only has to cope with a November general election this time.

Below is the text of Lurch's email, which denounces "lies" made in ads about McCaskill:

Dear John,

I know a thing or two about deceitful attack ads -- and the last eight years we've all learned something pretty fundamental about stopping them in their tracks: you need the resources to respond right away. Forewarned is forearmed.

And now my friend Claire McCaskill is getting ready to hit back against the same types of people who came after me in 2004 with the reprehensible Swift Boat ad. Claire knows they've turned their sights on her and on Missouri, and she needs our help now.

Let's be clear about one thing: Claire has spent the last six years fighting to protect taxpayers and hold government accountable. She was critical in the fight to end secret holds, so special interest groups couldn't subvert the will of the people. And, Claire made sure that veterans would receive the same education benefits that her father received when he returned from World War II.

In fact, it's because she's fought so diligently for hard-working families that special interest groups desperately want to replace her with a Republican 'yes' man.

We can't let these anonymous groups buy another election -- help Claire fight back by making a $5 donation or more before her June 30 fundraising deadline.

Already, Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS and its anonymous special interest funders have spent almost $3.5 million on negative ads about Claire.

And every one is filled with lies and more lies. Republican groups -- official and otherwise — have already resorted to vicious, ad hominem attacks. Rush Limbaugh has referred to his home state senator as a "commie babe liberal" and "Senatorette McCaskill."

Claire is fighting back and remains tied in the polls with all three of her potential Republican opponents, but she needs our help to keep up the fight and win.

Don't let the architects of '04 Swift Boat-style special interest advertising take Missouri's senate seat away from a champion of the people. Donate $5 or more before the FEC reporting deadline.

Because of the Citizens United case, this election is going to be remembered in American history as the most expensive and the most intense. Together we can make sure that the final narrative focuses on the triumph of grassroots over anonymous millionaire donors.

Thanks for supporting my friend Claire,
John Kerry

P.S. These fundraising deadlines are truly important -- they are used to judge the health of a campaign. Please join me and help Claire post a huge number by making a contribution to her campaign today.

Will Kerry buy his "friend" a Charlotte souvenir T-shirt?

McCaskill was viewed as Obama's advocate in the Senate in 2008 and she was the first female senator to back him--and that was when Hillary Clinton was viewed as the favorite to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

Technorati tags: Politics Democrats elections Senate Missouri missouri politics John Kerry