This week, would-be Democratic officeholders from moderate- and conservative-leaning districts started to call on Obama to fire VA Secretary Eric Shinseki after accusations that the department covered up long waits that led to the deaths of former service members.

“Those responsible must be held accountable, including Secretary Shinseki,” said Aimee Belgard, the Democrat running for the swing-district seat held by retiring Republican Rep. Jon Runyan of New Jersey.

“Unfortunately, this administration has fallen short in providing the kind of care that our veterans have earned,” said Democratic Rep. John Barrow, whose conservative Georgia district has an above-average number of veterans and is a perennial GOP target.

And in Florida, Democratic attorney Gwen Graham, running against Republican Rep. Steve Southerland in another veteran-heavy district, said, “If the people in Washington can’t show real leadership on this now, then they need to be replaced.”