Later this week the President will be in town to attend some fundraisers for the national party and for Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias. These events are part of a money tour Obama kicked off last week. On the road the President brings a combination of political capital and low approval ratings. So where he stops and where he doesn’t suggests the potential he has to energize the party and fill their coffers – locally and nationally.  Political Scientist Kent Redfield discusses the Obama effect at this stage in the election cycle.