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Late Obama push for Dems in Conn., Pa. gov races

By WTOP Staff

JIM KUHNHENN
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Barack Obama’s final campaign swing of the midterm election season Sunday came down to part nostalgia tour and part test: Did he still have the chemistry with voters who gave him two terms as president to drive them to the ballot box one more time?

Seeking to mobilize his election coalition of young people, African-Americans, women and Latinos, Obama on Sunday made a last-minute push in Connecticut seeking to save Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy from defeat in a neck-and-neck contest two days before the election.

Obama also made a case at the Bridgeport rally that many Americans are better off today than when he came into office and they shouldn’t let critics deter them from voting.

“Despite all the cynicism, America is making progress,” Obama told the crowd of about 1,900. “Despite unyielding opposition, there are workers who have jobs today that didn’t have it before. There are families who have health insurance today that didn’t have it before. There are kids going to college today that didn’t have the opportunity to go to college before. There are troops in Afghanistan now here with their families because of your vote.”

Obama relied on the old rallying cries of hope, of being of fired up and ready to go, that branded his 2008 and 2012 contests. By his own wistful account, Sunday’s was probably his last ramble down the campaign trail for an election affecting his presidency.

But on the weekend it was clear some things had changed. When Obama campaigned for Malloy in the closing days of the 2010 campaign, he filled Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard with 9,000, nearly five times more than his crowd on Sunday.

He closed out the day in Philadelphia, rallying votes for businessman Tom Wolf, the Democrat who appears to have the edge over GOP Gov. Tom Corbett, at a rally that drew about 5,500.

“There’s almost no economic measure where we’re not doing better,” he told that crowd. But “we’ve got so much more work to do.” Obama swiped at Corbett as a governor who has presided over lagging job growth, won’t stand up for pay equity for women and opposes an increase in the minimum wage. “We need leaders who understand the 21st century,” he said.

Obama switched planes in Philadelphia for his return trip to Washington because of a mechanical problem with a flap in his earlier aircraft, the White House said. The White House described the problem as minor.

Obama’s plane arrived back near Washington after 9 p.m.

In Connecticut, Malloy and Foley are in a rematch of the 2010 race that Malloy narrowly won.

Obama’s Bridgeport speech was interrupted at least four times by protesters seeking changes to the nation’s immigration laws.

“I am sympathetic to those who are concerned about immigration,” Obama said. “It’s the other party that’s blocked it. Unfortunately, folks get frustrated and they want to yell at everybody.”

Obama’s appearances highlighted competing pressures on the president as he balances his unpopularity in states where Democrats face tough Republican challenges and the need for Democrats to energize crucial elements of their voting bloc.

Obama has focused this past week’s appearances on candidates for governor in states that he carried in both of his presidential runs. On Saturday, he headlined a rally in Detroit for Senate candidate Gary Peters and Mark Schauer, who’s running for governor, and earlier in the week he campaigned in Wisconsin, Maine and Rhode Island.

Though any Democratic losses probably would raise questions about the strength of his popularity even among his biggest fans, Democrats said not campaigning carried bigger downsides.

“There is a bigger risk in not doing everything he can to hold a Senate majority and elect Democratic governors,” said Ben LaBolt, national spokesman for Obama’s 2012 campaign. “Republicans are likely to say he didn’t perform to 2008 and 2012 levels regardless.”

Democrats outnumber Republicans in Connecticut, so motivating core voters was essential for Malloy’s survival against Foley. First lady Michelle Obama, who campaigned for Malloy on Thursday, called him an “instrumental partner” of the president, and she citied Malloy’s success in raising the minimum wage and with the state’s rollout of the federal health law.

Foley got a boost Sunday when conservative candidate Joe Visconti dropped out of the race and threw his support behind the Republican.

In Pennsylvania, Wolf has emerged as the favorite, but Corbett was seizing on Obama’s appearance to portray the Democrat as a virtual Obama running mate, hoping that antipathy toward the president would drive more Republican voters to polls.

“Voting for Tom Wolf would be like voting to make Obama Pennsylvania’s governor,” a new Corbett television ad said.

___

Associated Press writers Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, and Marc Levy in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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