Exit Polls in Va. and N.J.: The Obama (Non) Factor?
This post was written by CBS News' Jennifer DePinto and Fred Backus. It was updated at 2:20 a.m. ET, Nov. 4, 2009
As voters in Virginia and New Jersey headed to the polls today to elect their governors, Americans across the country were watching these off-year races for implications about the nation's mood heading into 2010.
In Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat R. Creigh Deeds are battling to succeed the term-limited sitting governor Tim Kaine in what is widely viewed as a potential swing state in the future. In New Jersey, Democrat Jon Corzine is the only incumbent governor in the country to face a re-election challenge this year against Republican Chris Christie and independent Chris Daggett.
A majority of voters in both states said they are worried about the direction of the nation's economy over the next year. 85 percent of Virginia voters said they are worried, as are 89 percent of voters in New Jersey. These percentages were similar on Election Day in 2008.
In both states the economy topped the list of issues that mattered most to voters in their choice for governor – in Virginia health care was second, while in New Jersey the second choice was property taxes.
And what about the Obama factor? President Obama campaigned for both the Democratic gubernatorial candidates, even visiting New Jersey as recently as Sunday to stump for Jon Corzine.
Still, majorities of voters in both states (56 percent in Virginia and 60 percent in New Jersey) said President Obama was not a factor in their vote today. Those who said Mr. Obama was a factor in New Jersey divided as to whether their vote was a vote for the president (19 percent) or against him (19 percent). In Virginia, slightly fewer voters said their vote was for Mr. Obama (17 percent) than against him (24 percent).
Among Corzine supporters in New Jersey, 38 percent said one reason for their vote was to express support for Mr. Obama, while 39 percent of Christie voters said it was to express opposition to Mr. Obama.
In Virginia, among backers of the Democratic candidate, Creigh Deeds, 38 percent said their vote was in part to support the president, while 42 percent of McDonnell voters said their vote was in part to oppose the president.
This campaign cycle has seen its share of negative advertising in both Virginia and New Jersey.
In Virginia, Deeds is viewed more as the attacker – 65 percent said he has attacked McDonnell unfairly. 51 percent thought McDonnell attacked Deeds unfairly.
Over in New Jersey, the Democrat is also seen as more on the attack. 73 percent of voters said Corzine has attacked Christie unfairly; though 62 percent viewed Christie as attacking Corzine. Corzine has spent approximately $24 million on his campaign, compared to Christie's $12 million.
About half the voters in each state (57 percent in Virginia and 50 percent in New Jersey) said campaign advertising was a factor in their vote for governor today.
A third of New Jersey voters saw their vote today as a vote against the other candidates rather than in support of the person they cast a ballot for. 28 percent of Corzine voters and 61 percent of Christie voters said they were voting more against their candidate's opponents than voting for their candidate.
Most voters in both states decided on their choice for governor some time ago. In New Jersey, 54 percent made their decision before September, while in Virginia 46 percent made their decision that long ago. Still, about one in five voters in each state made their decision within the past week.
CBSNews.com Election Night Coverage:
Results
All Election Night 2009 Results
Republicans Sweep N.J., Va. Gov. Races
N.Y. Democrat Owens Wins House Seat
Maine Voters Reject Gay Marriage
Breckenridge, Colo., Votes to Legalize Pot
Analysis
What McDonnell's Win Means for the GOP, Obama
Corzine's Fall Has Been Festering for a While
What Doug Hoffman's Loss Means to Conservatives
Lessons for the White House from '09 Election Results
Why Christie Won in New Jersey
McDonnell Won Due to Turnout, Independents
Exit Polls in Va. and N.J.: The Obama (Non) Factor?
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. (AP)
In Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat R. Creigh Deeds are battling to succeed the term-limited sitting governor Tim Kaine in what is widely viewed as a potential swing state in the future. In New Jersey, Democrat Jon Corzine is the only incumbent governor in the country to face a re-election challenge this year against Republican Chris Christie and independent Chris Daggett.
A majority of voters in both states said they are worried about the direction of the nation's economy over the next year. 85 percent of Virginia voters said they are worried, as are 89 percent of voters in New Jersey. These percentages were similar on Election Day in 2008.
In both states the economy topped the list of issues that mattered most to voters in their choice for governor – in Virginia health care was second, while in New Jersey the second choice was property taxes.
And what about the Obama factor? President Obama campaigned for both the Democratic gubernatorial candidates, even visiting New Jersey as recently as Sunday to stump for Jon Corzine.
(CBS/AP)
Among Corzine supporters in New Jersey, 38 percent said one reason for their vote was to express support for Mr. Obama, while 39 percent of Christie voters said it was to express opposition to Mr. Obama.
In Virginia, among backers of the Democratic candidate, Creigh Deeds, 38 percent said their vote was in part to support the president, while 42 percent of McDonnell voters said their vote was in part to oppose the president.
This campaign cycle has seen its share of negative advertising in both Virginia and New Jersey.
In Virginia, Deeds is viewed more as the attacker – 65 percent said he has attacked McDonnell unfairly. 51 percent thought McDonnell attacked Deeds unfairly.
Over in New Jersey, the Democrat is also seen as more on the attack. 73 percent of voters said Corzine has attacked Christie unfairly; though 62 percent viewed Christie as attacking Corzine. Corzine has spent approximately $24 million on his campaign, compared to Christie's $12 million.
About half the voters in each state (57 percent in Virginia and 50 percent in New Jersey) said campaign advertising was a factor in their vote for governor today.
A third of New Jersey voters saw their vote today as a vote against the other candidates rather than in support of the person they cast a ballot for. 28 percent of Corzine voters and 61 percent of Christie voters said they were voting more against their candidate's opponents than voting for their candidate.
Most voters in both states decided on their choice for governor some time ago. In New Jersey, 54 percent made their decision before September, while in Virginia 46 percent made their decision that long ago. Still, about one in five voters in each state made their decision within the past week.
CBSNews.com Election Night Coverage:
Results
All Election Night 2009 Results
Republicans Sweep N.J., Va. Gov. Races
N.Y. Democrat Owens Wins House Seat
Maine Voters Reject Gay Marriage
Breckenridge, Colo., Votes to Legalize Pot
Analysis
What McDonnell's Win Means for the GOP, Obama
Corzine's Fall Has Been Festering for a While
What Doug Hoffman's Loss Means to Conservatives
Lessons for the White House from '09 Election Results
Why Christie Won in New Jersey
McDonnell Won Due to Turnout, Independents
Exit Polls in Va. and N.J.: The Obama (Non) Factor?
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Yeah right........
787 billion stimulus passed, promising 3 million jobs, so where are the job Obama? This is what will happen when you pass a bill without reading it. 10 months in the office only created 30,000 jobs and saved 650,000 jobs. Unemployment 9.8%. Small businesses lost, home lost, consumer index down, credit card limits busted, bailout banks,bailout motor industries,insurance companies, bail out wall street.
What happened to all the promises that were made during campaign last year? What happened to transparency government? What happened to bipartisanship? Why keep blaming the past administration? What's the hurry in trying to pass the health care reform and cap and trade bill?
It's only fair to say that economy AND Obama needs to be blamed. Liking Obama is not going to put food on the table for everybody. The heck with favorable/unfavorable polls.
You lose either way.
If you say Obama was a non-factor in these elections, then you're saying he could not bring home the victory for the Democrats.
This is a preview of what's coming in the midterm elections of 2010.
And they can't come soon enough to rescue this country from Obama and his merry band of Socialist/Facists.
Because if he was doing a marvelous job, the public recognized it, and then he came to VA, NJ, or NY and asked the public to vote for the Democrat candidate...THEY WOULD HAVE!
But, the point is: they didn't! And, WHY didn't they?!
...because he's not doing the job, they want him to! And, as a result, they're NOT going to take his advice and vote for Democrats!
Which means, Mr. Obama needs to start doing the things he promised, OR during the 2010 election cycle...Democrat candidates may not want to seek HIS help or endorsement...as it could be a campaign BUSTER!