Republicans who have better things to do than visit with Romney

No matter how many Republicans bail on Mitt Romney, he can rest assured that Joe Lieberman should be there for him as he was for Republicans in 2008. (Reuters) Republicans love to point out Democrats, like Missouri's Claire McCaskill, who are skipping the Democratic National Convention for the sake of politics.

That would be a potent line of attack if, you know, Republicans weren't being equally scared of being seen with their nominee.

Linda McMahon, Senate, Connecticut

[I]f McMahon wins the Aug. 14 Republican primary for retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman's seat, she will not attend the Republican National Convention that begins in Tampa Aug. 27.

'Our focus is going to be on campaigning in Connecticut,' said McMahon campaign spokeswoman Kate Duffy.

Steve Obsitnik, Andrew Roraback, House, Connecticut

Other high-profile GOP congressional candidates are also staying home, including Steve Obsitnik, who is running for Democratic Rep. Jim Himes' 4th District seat, and Andrew Roraback, who is running to represent the 5th District.

Jon Hunstman, former presidential candidate, Utah

Huntsman, who says he's been at every convention since 1984 when he was a delegate for Ronald Reagan, told The Salt Lake Tribune in a statement that he's been asked repeatedly whether he would attend the August convention in Tampa, Florida, but that he's skipping it.

"I will not be attending this year's convention, nor any Republican convention in the future, until the party focuses on a bigger, bolder, more confident future for the United States ' a future based on problem solving, inclusiveness, and a willingness to address the trust deficit, which is every bit as corrosive as our fiscal and economic deficits," Huntsman said.

Presumably, the GOP is laughing back at Mr. Two Delegates.

George Allen, Senate, Virginia

"Since we are locked in a close race and can't be in two places at once, the focus will continue to be listening and meeting with Virginia families, veterans, and small business leaders on the campaign trail," said Allen spokeswoman Emily Davis.

Of course, Allen can't be both in California raising money and in Virginia "listening" to people either, but that didn't stop him.

Dean Heller, Senate, Nevada

Now an appointed U.S. senator, Heller said Thursday he's thinking of staying home again in 2012 to campaign for the Senate as he faces a tough race.

Denny Rehberg, Senate, Montana

A campaign spokesman said Rehberg would remain in Montana to focus on his campaign against the freshman senator rather than attend the convention in Tampa, Fla., in August.

Heather Wilson, Senate, New Mexico

Wilson spokesman Chris Sanchez said that the former congresswoman does not plan to attend the convention in August and will be campaigning in New Mexico at the time.

Linda Lingle, Senate, Hawaii

[S]he's skipping the Republican National Convention in Florida on Aug. 27. A campaign spokesman told DC808 that Lingle will be 'at home campaigning at that time.'

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has made Lingle's 2008 appearance at the Republican National Convention a major theme in its criticisms of Lingle. The former governor is running on a platform of bipartisanship, but opponents argue she's an unwavering Republican.

As much attention as the media has showered on the handful of Democrats who are skipping their convention in North Carolina (McCaskill! McCaskill! McCaskill!), it looks like more Republicans are skipping theirs.

Not that I blame anyone for doing so. Candidates most likely ARE better served by staying home and campaigning. Yet it's time the media stops pretending this is an Obama problem, and realize that candidates in tough districts or state'regardless of party'have genuinely better things to do.