How Important Are These Off-Year Races?

New York Times:

At the very least, the results in the governors' races, if not predictive, are quite likely to drive the political narrative, bolstering or diminishing Mr. Obama's political stature as he seeks to rally a divided party. The outcome could, to a limited degree, help measure whether Mr. Obama's success last year was a phenomenon limited to him or the early signs of a long-term Democratic resurgence.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[C65]

I don't care who wins or losses.If their only agenda was to be elected/re-elected
instead of representing the people,they LIED to,to get their vote and the people voted
for them because;they were Democrate or Republican,Right or left,Red or Blue,
Conservative or Liberal,then anyone who voted for them,regardless of the race,
THEN THEY SHOULD NOT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE END RESULTS.

[Lee Andrew]

Creigh Deeds has no one to blame but himself 'if' e looses the commonwealth of Virginia. The DNC and White House made efforts to assist and he rebuffed them - distancing himself from the president.

In other words he tried to campagin as a DINO and the bathwater was cold.

LeeAndrew

[clumberfeet]

If NY-23 elects a Democrat for the first time since the 1800's, that would be news.

[a270]

It is the federal budget deficit that is driving the NY 23 election. Hoffman is more conservative than Dede and McHugh. People are afraid. They rightly fear the federal government is recklessly deficit spending the country into a financial disaster.

[mergina]

They sure are a sickening display.

[nbanflfan]

In regards to "Mr. Obama's political stature" as the NYT puts it:

The nation weighed in on 11/4/2008, as a result he is called Mr. President. Te next test is scheduled for Nov 2012. The attempts to diminish POTUS's stature by the MSM (they will shrug if it bolsters his stature) with local and statewide elections is just more weak spin on behalf of their puppetmasters.

President Obama is NOT on the ballot in NJ or VA, and he did win decisively last November.

GET OVER IT!

[Lee Andrew]

You are correct in your statment and I sahre this sentiment.
The author of this article is not correct in his first mention of the president in the beginning paragraph. The other Mr. Obama's after that would be acceptable.

Professional journalist rule of etiquette when first addressing the president of the the United States in written form it is proper to address him initially as MR PRESIDENT or President (Obama) after which he may be addressed as Mr. Obama.

LeAndrew

[Countdown09]

I'm all for voting people out of office who aren't getting the job done, BUT what I don't get is why people expect that in 2 years the democrats could clean up a decade of republicans mess. And lets remember one of the two years Bush was still running the show. We already see how difficult it is for Pres. Obama to move his agenda forward due to the blue dog democrats, if dem's lose seats it will be impossible for him to get anything done. Our political system no longer works without a one party majority in WA.

[austin4]

Deeds wins VA......

[mike63]

If Democrats win it mean alot, and if the Rebublicans win nothing--according to the White House.

[vegemight]

To hear the 'pubes say it, it's the end of days.

I couldn't care less; nobody's letting me off work to vote. No wonder Republickin's are about to win. No job, bad vote.

[xcrunner77]

Losing VA this time simply means that Creigh Deeds is an uninspiring candidate who ran a terrible campaign. (Those of us who volunteered for him can attest to that.) VA is a red state with a few blue coats of paint.

Last year extraordinary effort went into winning the election. People poured into the state from DC and MD, even from Canada. That is not happening this year.

In 2006 Jim Webb won by .3%, that was after the "macaca" comment revealed George Allen as an out and out racist. Nonethess, just under 50% of VA voters preferred a conservative racist to represent them.

Mark Warner won due to good timing -- the seat was open -- and a good record that even Republicans remembered. Had he been running against John Warner he may not have won.

To win as a Dem in VA you have to be an extraordinary candidate (or at least pretty conservative) who runs a tremendous campaign. Without both, you lose, even if everybody loves the President. (The majority of Americans still do.)

[acapo]

These races are only important if Dems win ... otherwise they are nothing.