The Hill: Obama Will Play Nice

Disappointing if true:

A White House official said not to expect any pressure from Obama on Maine's two Republican senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.

[...]

Both could be swing votes on a variety of issues, and the White House will need Republican senators to join Democrats in order to move things through the Senate.

Their importance will only increase next year if Republicans gain seats in the Senate.

Of course, it depends what "exert pressure" means.

I certainly wouldn't expect the President to castigate Sens. Snowe and Collins, shame them, or advocate against their reelection.

But as I've mentioned, it would make an awful lot of sense for him to push back, gently and respectfully, against the specific lies and distortions that have come out of their mouths. And to do so in a way that punctures the media-created bubble of infallibility that the two women live inside.