WASHINGTON – Independents who swept Barack Obama to a historic 2008 victory broke big for Republicans on Tuesday as the GOP wrested political control from Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey, a troubling sign for the president and his party heading into an important midterm election year.

Conservative Republican Bob McDonnell's victory in the Virginia governor's race over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds and moderate Republican Chris Christie's ouster of unpopular New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine was a double-barreled triumph for a party looking to rebuild after being booted from power in national elections in 2006 and 2008.

The outcomes of Virginia and New Jersey were sure to feed discussion about the state of the electorate, the status of the diverse coalition that sent Obama to the White House and the limits of the president's influence — on the party's base of support and on moderate current lawmakers he needs to advance his legislative priorities.

His signature issue of health care reform was dealt a blow hours before polls closed when Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid signaled that Congress may not complete health care legislation this year, missing Obama's deadline and pushing debate into a congressional election year. Democrats in swing-voting states and moderate-to-conservative districts may be less willing to back Obama on issues like health care after Virginia and New Jersey showed there are limits to how much he can protect his rank and file from fallout back home.

The president had personally campaigned for Deeds and Corzine, seeking to ensure that independents and base voters alike turned out even if he wasn't on the ballot — and voters still rejected them. Thus, the losses were blots on Obama's political standing to a certain degree and suggested potential problems ahead as he seeks to achieve his policy goals, protect Democratic majorities in Congress and expand his party's grip on governors' seats next fall.

I agree with nina, it's no surprise in Virginia and New Jersey. If you look at the past 20-30 years, they almost always go the other way of the party in power.

Obama was actually more of an anomoly, in that Virginia went for him in the election. THAT was the real surprise. The fact that it's new governor and supporting cast are Republican is not really a surprise.

NJ. Hmmm, not sure what "political ramifications" is tells. Corzine wasn't doing a good job, and the N.J. voters pointed that out.

But exit polling of these two states showed that Obama was NOT a factor in the voter's decisions. This was strictly at a State level. So as for calling it a "referendum on Obama", seems to be wishful thinking by the Right. In fact, both Virginia and New Jersey went to the Democrats right after Bush got elected...in 2001. I think we know how much that affected Bush's re-election in 2004, right? Same thing here. Obama has 3 years to get the economy on track, or his re-election may be in trouble.


The bigger surprise is the NY Congressional race, where a Democrat hasn't held that district 23 in over 100 years. I would think that if the Repub's had only one candidate from the start, the Dem. would have lost. IMO, this points to the moderate Republicans vs the conservatives not working together. If they continue to battle each other, it is harder for them to beat the Democrat. It will be interesting in future elections to see if incumbant Republicans are challenged by proclaimed "conservatives".

Well, no one likes to lose. But in politics NO ONE can be the winner every time. You win some, lose some and the pendulum has consistently kept swinging back and forth. It always will, and that's probably a good thing in the big picture. And fiscally speaking, I think being conservative has sound reasoning. But I can seperate NECESSARY spending from wasteful spending from being overly a tightwad. I like to think of it as "fiscally RESPONSIBLE".

My biggest issue is when you lose because of lies and misinformation. Not that this was the case in these Gov. races, but especially on the issues. I can accept the loss on a particular issue if the majority decides a certain way based on the actual truth and facts. But when decisions are made based on MISinformation and MISrepresentations of the facts, it taints our political system and frustrates the he11 outta me.

Yes they did, but opponents got the measure on the ballot and it was
overturned last nite in voting in Maine.

In general, most headlines go with a Democrat defeat and I'm sure President Obama
is thinking tuff about these results, as he should.

I'm still glad we have a President willing and able to take on the hard issues previously dodged by previous adms..for many years back.
<>
I noted in post above by a conservative; the politics of our parents..This is as if there has been no change in civilization, wars, issues, population, nor progressive electronics & other important inventions in business & medicine.NOT TO FORGET THAT BIGGIE, CHANGES IN HABITS AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICE IN MANY AREAS.

Can we BE the parents of old? Are you serious? Some values are the same and basic.[Love & respect come to mind];
But we, our children, our grands live in a changing world with new challenges each and every day. do we have to re-think some issues?

I think so, or else become a lonely hermit in a cave.
Nevermind, I'm climbing off my soapbox now, no need to throw mud rocks..

I have to disagree on one point....

yes, people are not happy. But the concensus seems to be they are not happy with the ecnonomy, not "the change Obama has implemented". Obama is still popular, and exit polls showed that people's decisions in these races were made independent of Obama. Once the ecomony turns around enough to start picking up jobs, you'll see the verification.

What will be interesting is to see if the far right conservatives clash with the election of moderate Republicans. There is obviously some turmoil there.

As much as the righties on here want to tie the elections directly to Obama, the actual voters responses do not bare you out.

No matter how many times you repeat yourself. The voters SAID their decisions were based on LOCAL situations and politics, not on Obama. Yes Obama supported Corzine, as any President would lend his support to his parties' candidates. Palin supported the conservative in NY (along with some other "conservatives" )....is her "star power" gone too?

Once again, I'll remind you that these two very same states, Virginia and New Jersey, voted for the Democrat in 2001, when Bush was winding up his first year. Was that a referendum on Bush's policies too?? I don't think so, since he was re-elected in 2004.

"multiple trips".

How about 2 for Corzine, late in the game. Corzine wasn't going to win, because he wasn't doing the job his constituents thought he should. Even Obama cannot save a poor candidate, but he's obligated to try. I wouldn't have been surprised if Corzine had lost by MORE than 4 measley points.

I think Dem's are more willing to vote against the worse candidate than Repub's, even if it's against their own party. I know I voted against our Dem. Gov. last race. He sucked. But Repub's rarely vote against their own, even if he sucks. In these races, especially the N.J. race, Independents made the difference.

These races are about the economy. If this Administration doesn't get this economy turned around fast enough, the 2012 Presidential election could be difficult. I suspect more Republican seats will be won in the 2010 elections...that's the nature of the beast. You just can't hold onto the majority for too long...our system never works that way. And that's actually a good thing.

Hartman, you may disagree and you may speculate on what "would be, if"....but I think I'm looking at this quite objectivly. Considering past elections, and exit polls....this is not a referendum on Obama. Not this election anyhow. It's on the economy and jobs, and if Obama can't fix it fast enough, THEN it will be a referendum on him. Most people have the common sense to know he can't fix the problems in a few months, but he's on the clock. Time will tell.

Just a couple of comments.

The only major election Obama did hot campaign for was NY 23 and the Dem won; VERY INTERESTING!

I disagree with the contention that the vote was not affected by Obama's record. 40% and 42% of the voters stated that he did have an affect on their vote. And by the way, Health care was at the bottom of the exit polls with the Economy/Jobs being first.

i just think it is hilarious (the elections) simply because for months and months the "dems and "liberals" herein have crowed and strutted about how "they" have taken over and now "they" are gonna run things and no "republican/conservative/libertarian or whatever could win a post as a dog catcher. times will change and as ya say "sometimes you win, sometimes you lose". and the lady who quit (or was advised to get out?) she was a bit more left leaning than the dem candidate as was reported. personally i could care less, other than it is funny to hear the baloney about, oh this is just a minor thing etc. come on be honest! you know it chaps ya'll's butts to see a repub win! LOL