“One of the big misconceptions is that the president is concerned about short-term politics. I think he’s focused on what it will look like to the next Robert Caro,” the strategist said, referring to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s biographer.

Democrats point to Obama’s announcement last week about removing troops from Afghanistan by the end of his presidency as an example of the White House’s focus on Obama’s legacy.

Others point to Monday’s announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency of sweeping new climate change rules aimed at cutting carbon emissions.

Green groups hailed the rules as a historic effort to tackle global warming, but it could hurt a number of coal-country Democrats running for election in the fall, including Alison Lundergan Grimes, the party’s prized candidate against Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.)…

Another Democratic strategist said the latest moves haven’t been “particularly helpful right before the midterms.”