Is Sen. Claire McCaskill shooting herself in the foot? In the process of trying to appeal to the right-of-center moderates, those who voted for Donald Trump, McCaskill may be alienating the liberal, progressive and social democrat wings of the Democratic Party.

With less than two-weeks left until the mid-term elections, McCaskill has been running commercials declaring her proximity to the president and her middle-of-the-road political prowess. She is touting her abilities to work with her Republican counterparts as opposed to discussing what she has done for the left of center and left political base that she desperately needs on Nov. 6.

Two commercials have triggered this concern for the senator’s bid for re-election in this tight race. Both commercials come directly from the campaign, with the candidate declaring that she has approved both.

The first is an endorsement from the National Border Patrol Council, the AFL-CIO-affiliated union that represents and supports the staff of the U.S. Border Patrol. The two NBPC representatives remind the viewer that Claire voted against sanctuary cities and that the NBPC endorsed President Trump in 2016 and still support his agenda to build a border wall.

The second commercial plugs Claire as the middle-of-the-road senator who works with the Republicans to get bills passed through the Senate. The ad quotes the Kansas Republican senator, Pat Roberts, stating that McCaskill is the Democratic senator to work with if the GOP wants to get its way, having at least two bills signed by Trump.

The fact of the matter is that the liberal, progressive and social democrat base, the left of center and left wings of the Democratic Party, are likely to be Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren supporters. They believe the cost of building the wall, increasing the military budget and fighting against sanctuary cities are boondoggles. They would insist that consorting with the “enemy” is tantamount to political treason.

They are firm in their commitment to universal health care, free college education, immigration reform and environmental and social justice. They tend to turn their heads away from politicians whom they believe have stepped out of bounds and do not fully support their agenda, even on a single issue.

Some are the same men and women who voted for third-party candidates in 2016, allowing Trump to gain the advantage in the Electoral College count. In addition to McCaskill and Republican Josh Hawley, candidates for the Green Party, the Libertarians and one independent are vying for the Senate seat.

Voting for one of these three “outliers” may result in Hawley winning the election to guarantee a Republican-controlled Senate for two more years.

It is hard for me to imagine the conversation that took place in McCaskill’s war room with the campaign manager, communication manager, advertising representative and senator sitting around, drinking coffee and discussing what to tell the public.

I believe the strategy the campaign has taken is wrong. I would have advised the senator to stick to reminding voters, especially in rural Missouri, that the pre-existing conditions portion of the Affordable Care Act has saved lives and many from bankruptcy.

She could also focus on the purse-string issues that concern every Missourian.

Though the economy appears to be stronger, the GOP-led government, with its fiscal conservatives, has increased the national debt to over $21 trillion or more than $61,000 per person. That has happened by giving tax breaks to the corporations and the upper 1 percent of the population.

College debt for the class of 2017 is almost $40,000 per person. And tariffs and immigration restrictions imposed by Trump are hurting Missouri farmers.

Midterm elections are a referendum on the sitting president and usually fall to the opposition. This year, Mr. Trump has been making himself the Republican issue. He has all but said that voting for Josh Hawley is a vote for him. He has been firing up the GOP base, speaking in Republican strongholds including Springfield and Cape Girardeau.

For many undecided, fringe or single-issue voters, the extent of their familiarity with the candidates comes through television and radio commercials. Few watched last week’s debate between the two major-party candidates. Most will not visit McCaskill’s website to learn all that there is about her.

Is it too late for McCaskill to turn her ship around? Maybe, but it would not hurt her efforts to talk be more in tune with the left-of-center and left-wing base of the Democratic Party.

Maybe the negative commercials about Hawley will help, but in this close race, it will be left-leaning constituents who will make or break McCaskill’s bid for re-election.

David Rosman is an editor, writer and professional speaker. You can read more of Davids commentaries at ColumbiaMissourian.com and InkandVoice.com.