CNBC anchor John Harwood says "white fear" was a key factor in Democrats losing control of Congress during President Obama's tenure.

In a series of tweets Tuesday, Harwood listed reasons why he thought Democrats struggled after Obama’s election. Among them: “Obama's race amid white fear of cultural change.”

for those making silly argument that Obama hurt Democratic Party: last 5 presidents have left both houses of Congress in opposition hands — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) December 27, 2016

drivers of D casualties under Obama: a) depth of financial crisis/Great Recession b) accumulated angst over 30-year income stagnation 1/2 — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) December 27, 2016

drivers of D casualties under Obama: c) effective/unified R opposition, esp to ACA; d) Obama's race amid white fear of cultural change 2/2 — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) December 27, 2016

among 2-term presidents, Clinton/Bush/Obama all began w/both houses of Congress run by their party, saw both flip. Reagan had & lost Senate — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) December 27, 2016

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Harwood added that it was “silly” to blame Obama for his party’s struggles, noting that the last five presidents left both chambers of Congress in the opposing party’s hands.

Democrats had control of Congress when Obama was elected in 2008. They lost the House in 2010 and the Senate in 2014. Democrats gained some ground in both chambers in this year’s elections, but not enough to dent the GOP’s majorities.

Harwood, a CNBC Chief Washington Correspondent and New York Times political writer, served as a moderator for a Republican presidential primary debate in 2015.

He was widely criticized for asking Trump if he was running "a comic book campaign."