Virginia Governor's Race 2009: McDonnell Beats Deeds

[FriendlyFire]

Virginia Governor's Race 2009: McDonnell Beats Deeds

WASHINGTON — Republicans wrested Virginia from the Democrats Tuesday in a one-sided sweep of top offices, and New Jersey's unpopular Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine fought for his political life as independent voters swung behind the GOP in elections in both states. It was a troubling sign for President Barack Obama 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 was a triumph for a GOP looking to rebuild after being booted from power in national elections in 2006 and 2008. It also was a setback for the White House in a swing state that was a crucial part of Obama's electoral landslide just a year ago.

The president had personally campaigned for Deeds and Corzine, raising the stakes in low-energy off-year elections. Thus, even one Democratic loss was a blot on Obama's political standing to a certain degree and signaled 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.

"Bob McDonnell's victory gives Republicans tremendous momentum heading into 2010," declared Haley Barbour, chairman of the Republican Governors Association. "His focus on ideas and pocketbook issues will serve as a model for Republicans running next year."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/virginia-governors-race-2_n_344576.html

The GOP are back

If the DEMs with control over congress, the white house cant get there act together then they deserve to lose. If President Bush excellent poltical manipulation during the re-election despite the every evident short commings are clear historical lessons which the Dems have failed to grasp.

Of course the GOP having embraced Rovian style strategies and tactics havent learnt anything either.
The GOP gains had better signal a wake up call for Obama. I seriously doubt the GOP should they gain control of congress again after so short a time will be any better.

God bless the USA. (your going to need it)

 

[bhsup]

And Christie beat Corzine

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_nj_governor

TRENTON, N.J. – Chris Christie, an aggressive former prosecutor who racked up a perfect conviction rate in public corruption cases and became the darling of New Jersey's Republican Party establishment, has unseated the deep-pocketed but unpopular Gov. Jon Corzine.

Christie, 47, on Tuesday became the first member of his party in a dozen years to win a statewide contest in heavily Democratic New Jersey. President Barack Obama invested heavily in the race, campaigning with Corzine five times on three separate visits.

Can it hold through 2010?

 

[Godwynn]

And Christie beat Corzine

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_nj_governor


Can it hold through 2010?

Are you going to make one of your famous predictions for the mid-term election next year?

 

[bhsup]

Hell no. Maybe if I keep my mouth shut, I won't jinx anything.

 

[Slim_Shady]

Yeah it's been a good day.
Any news on Hoffman?

 

[Huayna Capac357]

56% of voters in VA said that Obama had nothing to do with their vote. A further 18% said that Obama positively affected their vote. So I wouldn't say the Republicans are back

EDIT: Hoffman is losing ATM but probably will win.

EDIT2: It was 60%, 20% for NJ BTW.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Yeah it's been a good day.
Any news on Hoffman?

But prominent conservatives like former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska descended on the otherwise obscure district, urging voters to shift their allegiance to Mr. Hoffman, a former accountant who opposes abortion and gay marriage.

In Plattsburgh, N.Y., voters in the city’s predominantly Democratic Ward 4 turned out to vote at the United Methodist Church despite a light drizzle. About 20 percent of the district’s 654 registered voters had already come in by midafternoon, according to Mary Garrant, an inspector at the polls.

Randy Patnode, 41, who said he leans Democratic, cast his vote for Mr. Hoffman. “He was never the ideal candidate,” said Mr. Patnode, who dislikes the Conservative candidate’s opposition to abortion. “But fiscally, we need to change,” he said. “If the Democrats could be more fiscally conservative, they would get a lot more votes.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/nyregion/04elect.html?_r=1&hp

it would be HILARIOUS if the Republicans regained the Northern and costal states and the Democrates regained the Southern and heartland states.

 

[Huayna Capac357]

NY-23 Results

With 62% in:

Owens: 49%
Hoffman: 45%
Scozzofava: 5%

http://www.demconwatchblog.com/diary/2709/2009-election-results

 

[QuoVadisNation]

I'm still a democrat.. (techincally a NJ resident), and boy am I glad Corzine lost. That guy was a grade A douche. Dude didn't even bother posting his election platform and just made fat jokes, mud slings, and Obama associations all the time. Good riddance. My feelings are kind of mirrored with most nj residents. It wasn't an evaluation of Obama's policies. Rather it was just internal clean up.

 

[Dachs]

56% of voters in VA said that Obama had nothing to do with their vote. A further 18% said that Obama positively affected their vote. So I wouldn't say the Republicans are back

Neither would I. Party affiliation mattered less than the fact that Deeds was a pretty terrible candidate who campaigned on the wrong issues and was incoherent on what mattered.

 

[sumit1207]

The gay marriage election in Maine is neck-and-neck, with the more conservative parts left. So I guess the best liberals have to look forward to is +1 blue dog for another year (and probably almost-gay-marriage in Washington). Oh and medical marijuana in Maine. Welp.

 

[Slim_Shady]

Hopefully, the NY 23 race will turn around.

 

[sumit1207]

Hopefully, the NY 23 race will turn around.

It would probably help Democrats more that way, if "Conservatives" reach national prominence and spoil contested districts for the Repubs in 2010. One more conservative Democrat in the House certainly isn't going to make a difference. Most political debates are centered around the Senate. Whatever it approves, the House will certainly approve too.

 

[mangxema]

The GOP gains had better signal a wake up call for Obama.

The GOP gains mean nothing. The Dems control* the White House and Congress, of course there's going to be push back. That is what is supposed to happen! Besides, it's not like VA and NJ are Democratic locks anyway!

* - Not entirely true for Congress, but people believe it to be so.

 

[Miles Teg]

The gay marriage election in Maine is neck-and-neck, with the more conservative parts left.

I wouldn't be so sure. Lot of votes left to count in Cumberland County. Don't know if we can turn this around, but I wouldn't throw in the towel yet.

 

[MobBoss]

And is gay marriage going down in Maine? Possibly so. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33609492/ns/politics-more_politics/?GT1=43001

With 417 of 608 precincts reporting, 52 percent were opposed to same-sex marriage and 48 percent were in favor.

 

[Karalysia]

Today is a dark day.

 

[MobBoss]

Today is a dark day.

Thats rasist.

 

[amadeus]

Can't believe Corzine lost by only 4%... do voters in New Jersey want their state driven into the ground?

 

[Miles Teg]

Can't believe Corzine lost by only 4%... do voters in New Jersey want their state driven into the ground?

Corzine is an incompetent idiot that can't govern his way out of a paper bag. I'm surprised the FBI isn't already knocking at his door. I don't support him. So when I say that Christie makes Corzine look like an ethical person, it's not political hackery.