The Democrat charged with trying to win back the House majority is telling his candidates that it's OK to skip the party's national convention.

Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told a gathering hosted by Reuters his advice has nothing to do with President Obama.

"If they want to win an election, they need to be in their district," Israel said yesterday at the Reuters Washington Summit.

The New York lawmaker added: "I don't care if the president was at 122% favorability right now. I think (candidates) should be in their district."