Glossing over the vulnerability of Democratic candidates in the upcoming midterm election, a story on Friday's NBC Today downplayed President Obama's unpopularity and instead touted him jetting to a star-studded California fundraiser to raise money for his ailing political party. White House correspondent Chris Jansing proclaimed: "While his job approval ratings have mostly kept him away from candidates, he can still raise a lot of money for the November election."

Jansing detailed Obama's latest quest for campaign cash: "President Obama headed to his 53rd fundraiser of the year, at Gwyneth Paltrow's house....Inside, Paltrow gushed over the President while introducing him, saying, 'I am one of your biggest fans, if not the biggest.' And, 'You're so handsome that I can't speak properly.'"

The reporter briefly noted that "some posters mocking them both" had "disappeared quickly from the tony Brentwood neighborhood" in Los Angeles.

Jansing promoted the President's fundraising tour: "Earlier this week, charming donors in the liberal deep-pocketed cities of Washington on Monday, New York on Tuesday, here in Los Angeles and San Francisco Thursday through Saturday. In just the past few weeks, bringing in millions for Democratic candidates."

A soundbite followed of Congressman Steve Israel, head of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, happily declaring: "There are some people who can raise money from the grassroots. President Obama does both."

While Jansing pointed out how "Democratic stars are flooding key battleground states," she did briefly note, "Everyone, that is, except President Obama."

A clip ran of pollster Stu Rothenburg observing: "When you have an unpopular president, his party's candidates don't want to be seen with him. They don't want the opposition to use him as a way of defining them."

Jansing also mentioned: "Even his vanquished challenger, Mitt Romney, is in greater demand, campaigning in five states just last week."

The segment was 2 minutes and 42 seconds. Of that time, only 25 seconds was devoted to such footnotes of the President being a drag on Democrats.

In contrast to Jansing's report, on Thursday's CBS This Morning, correspondent Nancy Cordes offered viewers a story centered on Romney being a "political MVP" on the campaign trail for Republicans while Obama was laying low.

Here is a full transcript of the October 10 report on Today: