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Washington Many top Democrats are upset with Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, apparently. Thats the point of a big Politico piece this week thats got much of political DC buzzing.

The nut of their objections appears to be that the Florida representative is trying to leverage her DNC spot to promote her own political ambitions at the expense of the partys fortunes as a whole.

Politico quotes critics to the effect that Representative Wasserman Schultz hits up donors for cash for her own PAC, as opposed to pushing them to donate to party organs; plans her travel schedule to promote her own priorities; and pushes DNC staff to work on her own projects. Shes also tried and failed to get the party to pay for her clothes, according to sources.

Shes also made some high-profile verbal gaffes, such as her recent comparison of Republican tea party adherents to wife-beaters.

Shes become a liability to the DNC, and even to her own prospects, critics say, writes Politicos Edward-Isaac Dovere.

Nor is Politico alone in dishing on Wasserman Schultz this week. Buzzfeed has a similar story, though its not quite as harsh.

That means at least a few top Democrats really do have it out for the DNC leader. Why are they so mad?

The first and most obvious explanation is that its all completely true. Were just talking hypothetically here we have no independent knowledge of these alleged shortcomings.

Sometimes frustration with a politicians leadership grows so acute among staff and contacts that they feel anonymous leaks are their only weapon to deal with their boss.

But lets face it self-regard is as common in Washington as smart phones. If you cleared Capitol Hill of every politician guilty of overweening pride and too much focus on their own problems then the halls of Congress would be empty.

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Why are Democrats so mad at DNC chief Debbie Wasserman Schultz?

Democrats were making an election-year pitch to women on Friday, mindful of their past advantage among the voting bloc and hoping to convince enough women to cast ballots for their candidates in November's mid-term contests.

Without strong turnout and support from women, Democrats stand little chance of keeping control of the Senate -- the party's top priority this year.

The biggest draw at the Democrats' Women's Leadership Forum in Washington was Hillary Clinton, their leading 2016 potential presidential contender and, in the minds of some Democrats, a potential boost to mid-term candidates. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden also were on the event's roster.

"We have fought for families, for moms and dads and kids and the values that hold us all together," Clinton said during her midday speech, which was warmly received by the room of party activists.

Women have provided Democrats a boost in recent elections, including in 2012, when 55% voted for Obama in that year's presidential contest. But as Obama's poll numbers have slid, so, too, has his support among women.

The most recent CNN survey of Obama's popularity showed 55% of women disapproved of how Obama is handling his job -- the same percentage that voted for him in 2012. That disapproval rate was on par with the figure for men.

On pressing issues including terrorism, the economy and Ukraine, more women than men disapprove of how Obama's doing his job.

Those figures worry Democrats, whose prospects in this year's contests are closely pinned to voters' perception of Obama. Those anxieties have led to scant invites for Obama on the campaign trail.

Less worrisome in the mind of some party operatives is Clinton, who's been enlisted to stump for candidates in several states ahead of the November 4 vote.

On Friday, she said the congressional and gubernatorial contests were just as important as the higher-profile presidential race she's currently considering.

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Democrats making hard sell to women

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Congressional Democrats Stage Photo Opp, Demand Redskins Name Change
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Congressional Democrats Stage Photo Opp, Demand Redskins Name Change - Video

Washington GOP bigwig Karl Rove says that it is still possible Republicans wont win a Senate majority in the fall midterm elections.

Yes, that Karl Rove the chief strategist for George W. Bushs 2000 presidential campaign, top fundraiser for the right-leaning American Crossroads super PAC, the guy who argued on air when Fox News awarded Ohio to President Obama on election night 2012. In other words, a staunch figure in the party.

Mr. Roves got a piece in the Wall Street Journal today titled Why a GOP Senate Majority Is Still in Doubt. It argues that the Democrats might still maintain control of the chamber after November despite their disadvantages, which include President Obamas poor approval ratings, some lackluster performances by Democratic candidates, and greater enthusiasm amongst Republican voters.

Why? In a word, money. Rove notes that to this point Democrats have outraised and outspent Republicans on Senate races, by some measures. Democratic candidates have spent $24 million more on TV ads than their GOP opponents, Rove writes.

Republican candidates and groups must step up if they are to substantially reduce that gap, writes Rove.

Is this just someone who benefits from fundraising saying that lack of fundraising is a problem? After all, to a hammer, every problem is a nail thats sticking out and needs hammering down. Or something like that.

Maybe. But on the other hand, Rove is a smart guy, and hes not the only one pointing to a GOP cash shortfall to explain the surprisingly close midterm Senate contest.

Nate Silver, the data whiz behind the new 538 data journalism site, said this week that Democrats have more cash than the GOP in key Senate races. Thats a possible reason why some election forecasts show the battle for the chamber to be a toss-up, according to Silver.

And campaign ads do matter particularly when a candidate can outspend their opponent, and time is short until Election Day, so the effect doesnt wear off.

So maybe Roves right. He also emphasizes that Republican candidates have to campaign as a block to the ambitions of the unpopular President Obama. But his warning might be late. Thats not because theres too little time for Republicans to catch up. Its because they already are or already might be, rather, if polls and forecasts are any guide.

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Why is GOP's Karl Rove warning Democrats might keep Senate?