With recent polls showing the American people growing more skeptical of the Obama administration's policies, it was notable that Thursday was a rare day at the White House without a "message event" - the president appearing before the public to discuss important issues. Instead, the president and vice president put on their political hats, raising money for the lawmakers who will face the first electoral test of total Democratic control in Washington.

"I'm here tonight because I can't bring about the change that I promised by myself," President Obama told an audience last night at a fundraiser for the Democratic Senate and Congressional campaign committees.

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"Folks, this administration has a great deal to do," Vice President Biden told donors earlier. "We can't do it without you making sure we continue to have a robust representation in the United States Congress and in the United States Senate."

The message from the nation's top Democrats is just the latest demonstration of the fact that politicking doesn't end -- even seven months after one of the longest campaigns in history and with any array of challenges the administration continues to face.

"Obviously the President has some interest in the makeup of Congress," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, calling Obama's attendance at the fundraiser a sign of his commitment to supporting Democrats in the midterm elections.

Fundraising is obviously an important part of that, and Obama has done it early and often. According to CBS's Mark Knoller, the unofficial statistician of the White House press corps, the president has already attended eight fundraisers in five months, compared to the six President Bush attended in his entire first year.

For Obama, that includes yesterday and events last week to benefit Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and the Democratic National Committee. Biden has also spoken at several DNC events and raised money for Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.).

Behind the scenes, the White House political operation -- primarily chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, deputy chief of staff Jim Messina and political director Patrick Gaspard -- are in regular consultation with the Senate and House campaign committees, as well as the Democratic Governors Association. Those discussions run the gamut from planning events and fundraisers, recruiting candidates for upcoming races, and general political strategy.

That cooperation has already played out this year in off-year races. In the special election in New York's 20th District, the White House played a strong hand in the final stretch, including a strategically-timed endorsement from the president and radio ads featuring the vice president. Biden also recently appeared with New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine on primary day to help his embattled former Senate colleague kick off his re-election, and both leaders reached out to Virginia gubernatorial nominee Creigh Deeds after his primary victory.

Obama and Biden are expected to campaign with both Democrats in the fall.

"We have tremendous partners in the Obama administration," said Corzine campaign spokesperson Sean Darcy. "We couldn't be more thrilled with the commitment shown by our progressive partners in prioritizing this race on all levels."

The president has also not been reluctant to twist some elbows in attempting to recruit candidates. Just yesterday, the White House faced questions about a meeting Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan had with Obama, reportedly with the intent of seeking her commitment to run for the president's old Senate seat.

Biden, meanwhile, has worked several times to clear primary fields, as was the case when he lobbied New York Reps. Steve Israel and Carolyn Maloney not to challenge appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. He's also credited in part for Sen. Arlen Specter's (D-Pa.) decision to switch parties.

Even in more subtle ways, the administration has sought to build up Democratic incumbents. Obama has spoken glowingly of Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), both in a Boston Globe profile and at White House events. As administration officials have fanned out across the country to monitor implementation of the Recovery Act, it hasn't gone unnoticed that they frequently turn up in battleground states.

For all the seed work being done now to build a foundation for 2010, Democratic political operatives widely acknowledge that the ultimate indicator of success will be the popularity of the new administration one year from now.

"His first priority is getting this economy fixed and ensuring that we lay a foundation for long-term economic growth. But I know he'll be out there campaigning, as well," Gibbs said.

"The priority for him right now, as it should be, is getting the country back on track," said DSCC spokesperson Eric Schultz, echoing the White House message. "We've already seen bold leadership from this White House. And to the extent that the Democratic brand will be on the ballot this November, the president's efforts to right the ship is enormously important."

It's a new position Democrats find themselves in -- having a popular incumbent in place at a time when the party also controls Congress. A former congressional committee staffer, though, warns that there are advantages and disadvantages to the situation.

"The advantage is the ability to raise money, build crowds when he comes to town, and get air cover on tough issues. The disadvantage is that you have to actually have policy prescriptions that make sense - you can't base a campaign and communications strategy on just tearing apart the ruling party," the staffer said. "It's much easier finding ways to pick an idea apart than it is to come up with a good idea."

That's why historically there is some pushback to the incumbent party in a midterm year; generic congressional ballot tests have been close this year. Recent polls showing some degree of souring on the part of the public to the Obama agenda may give additional cause for concern. That's why, more than anything they do behind the scenes, Obama and Biden will keep preaching patience to lawmakers who might increasingly worry about their own fate.

"This is when it gets hard," the president said last night. "[But] I know years from now that we will look back at this moment as the time when the American people reclaimed together their future and wrote the next great chapter in American history."

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