article_snippet: But while the anxious Democrats shake the anxious Democrats heads about the state of affairs — and the lack of serious alternatives in the presidential lineup
article_snippet: Over the past six years, there's been a sharp structural decline of elected Democrats everywhere below the presidential level.
article_snippet: And down the ballot, Democrats under Obama have lost more than 900 state legislative seats: the worst showing of any modern president.
article_snippet: It's the phenom of Obama, too — and the very strong counterforces he's generated around the country.
article_snippet: The gains at the presidential level have not been cost-free: the country is polarized, the Democrats are often on defense and the Democrats're losing ground.
article_snippet: One result: a thin presidential bench, which is painfully evident.
article_snippet: As has been the case with other presidents, for Obama party-building has not been on top of the agenda.
article_snippet: But Obama party-building shows.
highlights_snippet: Democratic Party has no real alternative for 2016 and Democratic Party bench is painfully thin .
  