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WASHINGTON - For Democrats facing tough re-election campaigns this fall, an appearance with their somewhat unpopular party leader may be more of a hindrance than a help.

Aware of that fact, President Obama has focused his midterm election strategy around ways he can do the least harm to his party this fall. Chiefly, that means bringing in the cash.

Though Democrats haven't always been satisfied with the president's commitment to fundraising in past election cycles, there's little they can complain about this year. During the 2014 season, Mr. Obama has headlined 40 events so far with more planned for the fall.

Closer to Nov. 4, Mr. Obama will do radio interviews and online appearances, and will work on turning out certain voter groups, like young people and African-Americans. He will likely campaign for a few individual candidates, White House officials say, but mostly those running for House seats and the governor's mansions in states like Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

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With little more than two months until the midterm elections, attention is focusing on several races that could determine control of the Senate. ...

"That's important in a non-presidential year when Democrats don't turn out to vote the way Republicans do," said CBS News political director John Dickerson.

But as for the key Senate races - which could decide whether Mr. Obama's party controls at least half of Congress or neither chamber - the president will stay largely on the sidelines.

The most competitive races are happening in states where he has never been popular or has seen his approval rating dip in recent months, including Louisiana, Arkansas, Alaska and North Carolina.

"We will go where we're most helpful and we will not go where it's not helpful," White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer said about Obama's Senate strategy.

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Obama's midterm strategy: Do no harm