White House: Election Results No Reason to Change

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: 2009 Elections

(CBS/Mark Knoller)

President Obama was in no mood to talk about the election results as he walked from the Oval Office this morning to Marine One idling on the South Lawn.

He ignored pleas from reporters to offer some comment on yesterday's vote that included Republican victories in the only two states with gubernatorial elections: New Jersey and Virginia.

He had campaigned and raised money in both of those states. On three visits to New Jersey, he did five rallies and/or fund-raisers for incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine. And he went twice to Virginia on behalf of candidate Creigh Deeds. Both lost.

The Democratic defeats in the gubernatorial races are a blow to the White House. Press secretary Robert Gibbs admitted Mr. Obama was disappointed "his friend Jon Corzine" didn't win re-election and telephoned him and Deeds to offer words of consolation after their defeats last night.

But the White House challenges any suggestions that the election results reflect voter rejection of Mr. Obama or his agenda.

"People didn't do to the polls to register support for or opposition to the president," Gibbs told reporters this morning at an off-camera briefing in his office.

Exit polls bear him out. In New Jersey, they showed that 57 percent of voters surveyed approve of Obama's handling of his job, while 42 percen disapprove. The margin was tighter in Virginia where 48 percent of voters approve of Mr. Obama's job performance and 51 percent disapprove.
Gibbs says the election results demonstrate voters want to work through local issues "and that didn't include the president."

The White House also portrayed itself as heartened by the results in the two New York and California congressional races decided yesterday. Democrats won both. Gibbs pointed out that the only two candidates elected yesterday who'll be able to vote on the president's policy agenda are Democrats.

Gibbs said it's clear to the White House that the economy was the issue weighing heaviest on voters' minds – and that Mr. Obama shares their concern.

But he made it clear that the election results give Mr. Obama no reason to change course or priorities.

By habit, Mr. Obama didn't watch the election returns on TV last night. He never does, says Gibbs. Not even when he's on the ballot. He might have watched an HBO documentary on his own triumphant two-year quest for the presidency, but Gibbs said Mr. Obama had already seen it on DVD.

To say nothing of having it lived it, as well.

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
Atlanta's Race For Mayor Heads To Runoff

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?
Michael Steele: GOP Has "Found Its Voice Again"
David Plouffe: Obama "Delivering on His Promise"

(CBS)

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by Jack_Davis1 November 5, 2009 10:08 AM EST: The White House sees no reason to change course and the captain of RMS Titanic saw no reason to slow down.

"Those who do not learn from history...."; Reply to this comment


by valwayne November 4, 2009 7:06 PM EST: The voters don't despise Obama yet, but they don't like his policies, they don't like 9.8% UNEMPLOYMENT, and they don't like trillions upon endless trillions of corrupt spending and debt that will result in massive tax hikes. If Obama had been on the ballot in VA yesterday he would have lost while he still would have won in NJ. So he can still carry deep blue Democratic states, but he's now losing states that he carried, but George Bush won in 2004. The last Rasmussen poll in NJ showed the Republican winning by 3%, he won by 4%. In VA the last poll was a Rep win by 13%, he won by 18%. With the undecideds breaking against Obama the Rasmussen polls were spot on! Rasmussen today has Obama at 52% disapproval. In the Generic Congressional ballot he has Republicans up 5% over the Dems. With his polling just validated you have to take these polls seriously. If NY and NJ show anything he is underestimating the weakness of Obama and the Democrats. Obama and the Democrats have conducted the most corrupt arrogant power crazed debt ridden splurge in the history of the world. The American people are beginning to see that this needs to be checked before our economy is ruined for a generation! 2010 can't get here quckly enough!; Reply to this comment


by velma179 November 4, 2009 6:52 PM EST: Those of you who are saying "Americans" or "the Majority" have sent President Obama a message with two Governor races:

#1 That's Two states. Two, not fifty. ALL Americans nor a majority of voters live there!
Both of these states gave their electoral votes to Obama in 2008. It is all but certain NJ will again in 2012... VA -- remains to be seen, if the (R) candidate is strong, they'll probably return to their Republican roots.

#2 -- Two Congressional districts sent Democrats to Washington. I am going to assume you understand these voters are Americans, as well.

2010 will be a very interesting election year -- but I wouldn't be counting chickens just from these 2009 elections and I mean that for all the political parties and ideologies.

And ... uh, lightningF -- Will you please tell me what new federal tax has been levied or raised since Jan 20, 2009? Or, perhaps you could tell me about the payroll taxes that have been lowered for low income, but WORKING Americans?
Then, will you please tell me how Obama has spent and borrowed MORE money than the previous or prior administrations?

And do remember -- US accounting is done in "fiscal" years.; Reply to this comment


by formerdem-2009 November 4, 2009 5:51 PM EST: Interesting that Gibbs points out the polling data that it wasn't about Obi-Wan. But nothing about his failed effort in both states to get his boys elected. Could it be the glow in his halo is fading? Might look into some better batteries for that gibby before 2010, if this is best he can do he's going to need them.; Reply to this comment


by heavynne November 4, 2009 5:24 PM EST: I am so glad all you Republican racists are happy. Those two very small states mean absolutely nothing to millions upon millions of Americans who still approve of Obama's presidency. Because unlike you we all live in a real world that was a total mess under the Bush administration who was not only destroying America, but the world. It doesn't matter about these insignificant elections. There are millions of us still backing Obama. You guys sound really ridiculous expecting the president to clean up a mess that took 8 years when he's only been in the White House for 1. By the way he and anyone who dared run for that office was brave. Anybody other than a Republican that is, because had they gotten in again, nothing would have changed.; Reply to this comment


by innisfree4 November 4, 2009 3:56 PM EST: And had 'his' candidates won, the story today would be how strong Obama's coattails are... However, his top coat has turned into a suit jacket in just a few short months...

Even if I had never found out about his dubious associations, his lack of candor regarding his education, the fact he never held a real job in his life, his inability to make a decision, his overwhelming love of himself and his complete disregard for what has made this Country 'Great' - I never would have voted for him just for the fact that he was a first term senator with only 146 days of experience!..

Just wait until 2010 when all previous Obama Zombies wake up from this nightmare and turn the tide against him.; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 November 4, 2009 2:23 PM EST: Did anyone watch the premier of "V" last night? A reporter had a sit down interview with the hot female leader of the visitors. Two minutes before the live interview was to start the leader told the reporter not to ask any questions that would put the visitors in a bad light. The reporter did not initally agrre to this and the leader said ther would be not interview and started to leave. Long story short, the reporter agreed to ask only questions that put the visitors in a good light. The leader of the visitors was also touting universal health care.; Reply to this comment

by AngryMobVoter November 4, 2009 2:11 PM EST

The current administration has put the country on a course of reckless government spending that has mortgaged the future of all Americans especially future generations. We are witnessing the greatest intrusion into the private lives of individuals and business in history. Obama's pledge of transparency has turned out to be a lie that has been replaced by secrecy and media manipulation. The American people what less government not more. The American people do not want health care reform that will do little to reduce costs and improve quality but will create numerous do nothing bureaucratic jobs. If Obama and the congress do not start acting according to the will of the people, the American people will continue to VOTE THEM OUT! It seems the "angry mobs" were real people after all!

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by us_1776 November 4, 2009 2:30 PM EST: angrymobvoter, where were you ultra-right-wingnuts when the Bush/Cheney crime syndicate was backing Halliburton up to the public treasury and emptying it? They got away with MULTI-TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS via over-bloated contracts for war goods and services, some of which was pure fiction and never delivered. Just where were you fake angry people then? MIA is where you were.
So now that President Obama has inherited a MASSIVE mess left to the country by the Republican ultra-right-wingnuts party, and is doing a remarkable job at keeping the country from going into the Great Depression II, many of us give the president good marks for keeping us from falling into the abyss.


by moreofless November 5, 2009 8:17 AM EST: I wonder if us has any kids? The reckless government spending by Obama and congress makes their future bleak. DO THE MATH...THE NUMBER DO NOT ADD UP.

It is time to continue to VOTE THEM OUT!


by endurorob_5 November 4, 2009 2:06 PM EST: If these two races had been won by the dem then Obama would have claimed it was partly due to him. As Clinton said these elections would either be a referendum for or against Obama. I guess against is the winner.; Reply to this comment


by jdcampbell6 November 4, 2009 1:50 PM EST: The problem with Obama's attitude is that he believes lying to the public is ok. Just like Bush when he said he was going to secure our borders, he lied about that. The White House campaigned heavily in three states and lost in two. The problem I see is children hear and read about this. Kids in school, young adults lie as an accepted way of life. Lying to their parents, teachers, law enforcement, etc. Whole generations of children raised to believe that breaking our laws, cheating in school and outright lying is accepted by society.; Reply to this comment