White House distances itself from electoral losses

Thursday 05th November, 06:58 AM JST

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Wolfpack at 10:38 AM JST - 5th November

This is just spin from the White House. It's to be expected - but not believed.

President Obama's team was turning against Deeds in Virginia two weeks ago when things started looking bad for him in the polls. Obama still went and compaigned for him. Deeds ended up losing in a landslide.

In New Jersey, Corzine had closed the gap in polls until Obama's multiple campaign stops over the last few days. You could just as easily argue that Obama cost Corzine the election. Needless to say, the White House would have claimed that Obama saved Corzine if he had won.

The only significant office the Dems won was district 23 in New York. But Obama didn't help that guy at all. Regardless, the guy that came in second was completely unknown until a month ago and only lost by five points. Regardless, it is a good pickup for the Dems considering it is a traditionally Republican district.

I think New Jersey is the big story. A very solidly Liberal state that Obama spent the most time in and the Republican won. Also, Democrats know now that Obama will not be much help in 2010 midterms even in Liberal states. His favorable ratings are just 50% - which isn't horrible. It's just that his policies are less popular than that.

It will be interesting to see how these election results play out in Congress with the Health Care and Cap & Tax legislation soon coming up for important votes. I think these results make it not unreasonable to presume that there may not be any Health Care reform passed at all during this Congress. If there is no health care reform, what will that say about Obama? I think it would say that Dems like Obama but would not be afraid of ditching him in order to save themselves next November. It's going to be interesting...
Badsey at 11:04 AM JST - 5th November

Do you really think the Dems will throw Obama under the bus? In Japan they push you off the platform into The Shink.
Molenir at 01:03 PM JST - 5th November

That's what the Republicans need: Another liar who claims to read minds.

Just to clarify, you were talking about Barrack there right? I was watching him give a speech recently, and was like, lie, lie, partial truth, lie. He's definitely a man who has minimal contact with the truth. Most Democrats aren't any better though.

I agree though that this election only partially a referendum on the President. Corzine was deeply unpopular. Thats the only way a Republican could win in Jersey. Obama simply couldn't save him. The Virgina election much more then the Jersey election seems more directly a referendum on the President and his policies.
yabits at 02:30 PM JST - 5th November
I think New Jersey is the big story. A very solidly Liberal state that Obama spent the most time in and the Republican won.

Big story? LOL!!!

New Jersey is such a liberal state that, if you go back over 30 years to 1970, you will find that voters there have alternated between the two parties with great regularity.
1. From 1970 to '74 -- a Republican was governor. (Cahill)
2. From '74 to '82 -- a Democrat (Byrne)
3. From '82 to '90 -- a Republican (Kean)
4. From '90 to '94 -- a Democrat again (Florio)
5. From '94 to '02 -- Republicans again (starting with Christine Todd Whitman)
6. From '02 to '10 -- Democrats again.
7. From '10 to xx -- Republicans again.
Some "big story."
realist at 05:25 PM JST - 5th November

I am glad the over-inflated ego of Obama got dented yesterday with these results. Its about time. The Democrats, under Obama, are ruining once-great America.
Hehehohohaha at 07:22 PM JST - 5th November

The Democrats, under Obama, are ruining once-great America.

And which America would that be? The one where the Executive lies in order to start war of convenience? The one where the VP plots to out a CIA operative? The one where the economy is driven into the ground in time for someone else to pick up the pieces?

Or was it the 90s you are thinking of where the economy smoked and America was the envy of the world?

Perhaps you do not understand the word great.
DickMorris at 11:15 PM JST - 5th November

Lame Duck Obama`s insane socialist policies are bringing support for the Dems crashing down. Tee Hee!

This shows Obama will be a 1 term president. The Republicans are back, and will be in power next time, you betcha.
RomeoRamenII at 11:41 PM JST - 5th November

NJ was interesting in that Corzine spent $24 million of his own money and the WH threw all its resources behind him - including five visits to that state by The One -- and still failed to turn the tide.

This is shaping up as a 1993/1994 dejá vu. The difference is that this time the GOP margin will be bigger.

Unless the Obama administration makes a U-turn with its socialist/marxist domestic policies, it will be Speaker of the House Boehner in 2011.
Beelzebub at 11:45 PM JST - 5th November

Democrats and you get a recession and unemployment... Republicans and you get a recession and unemployment... So would someone please explain to me why it even matters who gets elected? I don't see any evidence that the US Congress does anything but bicker and waffle. State governors are just beggars in business suits who go around trying to grab aid from the federal government.
RomeoRamenII at 11:57 PM JST - 5th November

the races for governor hinged on local issues and were not a referendum on ... Obama.

Wow, talk about denial (it's not a river in Egypt).

Heh, even one of Obama's media cheerleaders, ABC, reported that exit polls of voters in both Virginia and New Jersey showed the economy, jobs and federal government spending were the top three issues on the minds of voters in those two states.

http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/election-2009-virginia-jersey-exit-polls-obama-economy/story?id=8984551
ca1ic0cat at 02:59 AM JST - 6th November

A week ago Obama was hip deep supporting democrat candidates though he said not one whit about supporting gay marriage. Now he's saying that the election results aren't important and the gay marriage supporters are saying that Obama isn't showing any leadership. I would guess that the latter are correct.
gcbel at 03:14 AM JST - 6th November

http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/election-2009-virginia-jersey-exit-polls-obama-economy/story?id=8984551

You didn't even bother to read the article you linked to did you? tsk, tsk,
seijichuudo9sha at 06:23 AM JST - 6th November

Distancing is valid. Its okay,seriously. Its always good to ignore the real world and go with the vision thing.
hworta269 at 02:18 AM JST - 7th November

Obama wasnt distancing himself a week ago lol.

America's economy went down the tubes when democrats tool over congress, which is who manipulates the American economy, not the President.
WhiteHawk at 06:13 AM JST - 7th November

Beelzebub:

So would someone please explain to me why it even matters who gets elected?

The difference in how each side reacts to recessions and unemployment. One cuts taxes and eases restrictions, making it easier for the private sector to hire people and invest, which encourages recovery and growth; the other raises taxes and puts more demands on the private sector, making it more difficult for the private sector to hire people and invest, which inhibits recovery and growth.

By the way... Obama said we needed the porkulus spending plan to prevent unemployment from exceeding 8%, in spite of many estimates that such spending would only make unemployment worse and hinder the recovery process. Now unemployment is 10.2% and Obama/Gibbs is still trying to blame Bush.

How can anyone with a brain not connect congressional races to federal policies?!? People all over the country are tired of this runaway Democrat spending party, and want representatives who will put a stop to Pelosi and Reid's madness, or at least have a state government that will stand up to unconstitutional federal policies.

Sarge called it earlier. If it had been a Democrat sweep, Obama/Gibbs would have been crowing that it was a message of resounding approval from "the people" for the Obama administration and the Democrat's policies.