Democrats Face Setbacks in Elections

Despite Campaign Appearances from President Obama, Democrats in Today's Elections May Not Fare Well

(CBS/ AP)  Updated at 3:30 p.m. ET.

President Barack Obama's Democrats faced the possibility of symbolic setbacks Tuesday in elections for governors in the states of New Jersey and Virginia and a congressional race, as Obama aides downplayed the impact of the off-year votes.

Beyond the immediate outcome of the elections, results in those races and a handful of other contests nationwide will go under the microscope as the nation's political class looks for clues about the future direction of the country, chances that Obama's Democrats will retain power in the 2010 midterm vote or signs of a resurgence among wobbly Republicans.

"I don't think looking at the two gubernatorial races you can draw with any great insight what's going to happen a year from now," said Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs.

Traditionally, midterm voting works in favor of the party out of power as the president hits the midway point in his term and voters begin feeling dissatisfaction with their representation in Congress.

In the few races of consequence this year, late polls in New Jersey showed incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in a too-close-to-predict race against Republican Chris Christie, a former prosecutor, despite a series of campaign appearances for Corzine by Obama.

"I think there, if Corzine does pull out a victory, it's not going to be so much because Barack Obama came there to campaign for him," says CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer. "It's going to be because he poured a lot of his enormous wealth into negative campaign ads against his opponent. If he wins, that will be the difference this time around."

Corruption in state government and highest-in-the-nation state taxes have dragged down Corzine, who also hasn't been helped by his past background as chairman and chief executive officer of Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs.

Republicans have not won statewide in New Jersey in a dozen years, and a victory would sting the president in a state he carried a year ago.

Democrats appear more certain to face disappointment in Virginia, where Obama won the presidential vote last year to become the first Democrat to do that since 1964. The incumbent governor, Tim Kaine, is also chairman of the Democratic National Committee, but was barred by a state term-limit law from seeking re-election.

Democrat Creigh Deeds trails Republican Bob McDonnell in polls by double digits. Obama also campaigned for Deeds, but as his support buckled, the White House began saying it had done all it could and pointing to polls that showed the Democrat's likely loss would not reflect on the president's popularity.

Long reliably Republican in national races, Virginia is a new swing state. Rapidly growing counties like Loudoun and Prince William swung toward Democrats in the 2005 governor's race, previewing an Obama win three years later.

"It's a great indicator of what's going on at the national level," Nick Ayers, executive director of the Republican Governors Association, said on CBSNews.com's Washington Unplugged. "And while I don't think it reflects directly on the president, I do think this says a lot about his agenda. It's an agenda that [Republican candidate] Bob McDonnell has campaigned against, and one that [Democratic rival] Creigh Deeds has found tough to dance around."

In other races, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was expected to cruise to a third term. Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Detroit and Pittsburgh also were electing mayors.

Read more Election Day Coverage on Political Hotsheet:

Washington Unplugged: Election Day a Referendum on Obama?
Off-Year Elections: Just Like Preseason Games
Schieffer: Hard Right Driving the GOP Train
Obama: The Year since his Election
N.J. Governor's Race Goes Down to the Wire
Battle Rages for N.Y. House Seat
Palin Jumps into N.Y., Va. Races
Va. Race, A Look at the Electorate

A special election in New York state's 23rd congressional district promised to be interesting. There potential 2012 Republican presidential aspirants the most conservative among them have been lining up behind a third-party candidate, Doug Hoffman, who is running under the banner of New York's Conservative Party.

His heavyweight Republican backing from the likes of Sarah Palin, last year's Republican vice presidential candidate; Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty; and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, led Republican state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava to suspend her campaign abruptly and endorse her Democratic opponent, Bill Owens.

Until Scozzafava dropped out, the race pitted conservatives against the moderate wing of the Republican Party. Hoffman painted Scozzafava as too liberal, specifically noting her support of abortion rights and same-sex marriage. He told voters that she was not the kind of Republican they want representing their interests in a Democratic-led Congress.

The White House suggested those developments show that hard-liners are taking over the Republican Party, and the trend will affect the 2010 elections. On Monday, presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs predicted, "This is a model for what you'll see throughout the country."

Voters also will decide ballot measures in a number of states.

In Maine there is a referendum on gay marriage, whether to accept or reject a same-sex marriage law approved by legislators in May.

In Washington, voters will decide whether to keep a legislature-approved "everything but marriage" domestic partnerships law, which grants registered partners the same legal rights as married couples.

Ohio voters will decide on legalizing casino gambling.

[weewillywonka]

I don't get why the talking-heads insist that last nights LOCAL elections on LOCAL issues are a referendum on Obama...the special congressional election in Albany, NY (heavily GOP) was won by a Democrat...

[s_temper]

Oh, no one is unhappy with Obama. Everyone knows that when Democrats lose, that only means the "possibility of symbolic setbacks," "a resurgence among wobbly Republicans," "voting works in favor of the party out of power," "the Democrat's likely loss would not reflect on the president's popularity," and "that hard-liners are taking over the Republican Party."

These are all direct quotes from the article above....Hey, CBS News is not a biased company with a liberal agenda, are they? Is CBS "reporting" the news or "shaping" the news???

[gboyd41]

SPIN TIME for the WH. Good luck!

[CBSisCommunist]

Democrats Face Setbacks in Elections

Just wait until the 2010 election...

[velma179]

Actually, if the Dems lose ALL the East Coast races (very unlikely they will lose in CA, but it COULD be lost as well...) -- I don't think it should be considered a referendum AGAINST Obama, I think it is pure and simple complacency.

You have to remember that a majority of Americans don't pay as much attention to politics and/or national news as those of us who like to discuss issues on comment boards.

If the Dems win them all -- first, I'll be surprised because of that complacency -- but I also don't think that's a referendum FOR Mr. Obama.


I Do certainly see these elections today as building blocks for both (all three..??) parties going into 2010.


Wait for the results.

The SPIN will be so intense, the Earth may wobble.... hehehehe

[velma179]

Firefox wasn't loading CBS, so I'm using aol today and my spelling (typing, really) is horrible... wonder if aol makes you stupid?

Tee heeee

[endurorob_5]

The earth does wobble about 23 degrees over many thousands of years. The whie house is already spinning that the elections aren't that important but Obama sure went to a lot of effort to campaign for his boys.

[velma179]

Oh endurorob...

We all (most, with high school science under our belts, anyway) know the earth wobbles.

I was being funny.

And of course -- you have to say ONLY Obama (meaning the Dems) are spinning things. I am so tired of this "us against them" crap ... lighten up!

Sheesh ...

[lovenpeace1]

Folks,

Let the Political cycle repeat again with a new Party in Power. Never mind this new Party is the one that took us all into the current Economic Meltdown.

Now, where is my Massive Tax Cut (for the Rich)? I do not care if you have to borrow the Tax Cut from China since its my hard earned money.

China's GDP growth this year is 8.9% - more than the best projections with the same Communist Party of the last 30 years.

Americans sure forget and forgive quickly overnight. Welcome back Mr. Greed! Where were you Mr Greed the last 12 months?

Viva La Democracia!

[starleo146]

you know we blame Obama,We blame Bush, When are we going to blame the electorate, After what happened the last 8 yrs we go and vote for a republican, just because you are mad the economy is bad, and Obama is taking too long to fix it. C'mon it took Bush and his counterparts 8 yrs to screw America up, it will take a miracle to clean a 8 yr mess in 1 yr. Only God almighty could do that, and the media is really playing to you voters out there.Wake up America before we will never recover, Republicans deserve no chance at politics they have played there hand, and all the dirty politics they can muster will and should not prevail again.

[reveal4]

The conservative "tea party" folks have a little work to do before they completely alienate the 85% of non tin foil hat wearing Americans. A little more work will be required...The more the GOP pushes to the right, the more room in the mainstream for dems. The winning strategy for dems the last two election cycles was, indeed a push toward the middle. Conservatives do not understand the changing demographics in the country. Either that, or they are fighting against complete extinction. My guess is they just don't get it. This would be in harmony with all the issues which they just do not understand. I hope the complete alienation of the unalienated rest of the country will be excruciatingly slow and painful for the GOP. They truly deserve it. One thing is for sure. Conservatives will not be satisfied until they completely alienate all the folks who do not wear tin foil hats in America. Take your time conservatives, you've got a little ways further to go.

[lovenpeace1]

Folks,

Let the Political cycle start all over again with a new Party in Power. Never mind this new Party is the one that took us all into the current Economic Meltdown.

Now, where is my Massive Tax Cut (for the Rich)? I do not care if you have to borrow the Tax Cut from China since its my hard earned money.

China's GDP growth this year is 8.9% - more than the best projections with the same Communist Party of the last 30 years.

Americans sure forget and forgive quickly overnight. Welcome back Greed!

Viva La Democracia!

[olyboy]

It's the economy stupid!

[starleo146]

Yea it is and who screwed it up stupid

[lovenpeace1]

This is a huge progress to fix our infinite problems.

Let see, after you vote Republicans into Power, make sure you vote Democrats into Power every other year and repeat the cycle until you RIP.

25 years ago, Brazil voted to become Energy Independent. The Brazilians united accomplished that goal within 23 years.

Americans cannot look beyond the next election which is next year incidentally.

[lovenpeace1]

Folks,

Let the Political cycle start all over again with a new Party in Power. Forget the fact this new Party is the one that got us all into the current Economic Meltdown.

Now, where is my Massive Tax Cut? I do not care if you have to borrow it from China.

China's GDP growth this year is 8.9% - more than the best projections with the same Communist Party of the last 30 years.

Americans sure forget and forgive.

Viva La Democracia!

[stn_sage]

My comments are as follows:

First, I agree with Mr. Schieffer, if Corzine wins, it's due to HIS effort, not any 'help' he got from a couple appearances from Mr. Obama!

Second, Mr. Gibbs is 'putting on the happy face'...but, it has a LOT to do with disappointment in Mr. Obama's administration to-date!

Third, the New York 23rd has been pretty solidly in the hands of Republicans for a number of years...so a win by them here is not great news...or, at least it shouldn't be!

Fourth, the loss of the governorships is a different matter! Here, I think the public is 'issuing a warning' to the Democrat party...either do the things you promise when you are put in office, or we'll vote you out next cycle! And, I would assume the same 'warning' applies to the GOP as well!

Fifth, Mr. Ayers is WRONG! It's NOT a repudiation of Mr.Obama's policies that the public is reacting to...it's HIS FAILURE to implement the policies he promised the public during his campaign! Why haven't you done so, Mr. President?!

Sixth, this shouldn't be construed as some massive public shift to the GOP...it isn't! It's a shift AWAY from incumbents AND politicians perceived to be incompetent and dishonest!

Seventh, I believe in 2010, we are going to see some incumbents DEFEATED and replaced with those perceived to be honest.

Finally, this election may indicate that the public is getting tired of accepting lame excuses, tolerating failure and inactivity, and plans to begin replacing politicians who DO NOT perform and get RESULTS!

Let's hope so!

[velma179]

In regards to the real significance we will take from these elections toiday -- I have been thinking the same thing about the public being at the "end of ther rope" with politicians in general.

I imagine some incumbents -- whether (R) or (D) and House, Senate, Governor etc. should be taking some time to pull their lips off the behinds of corporate interests and pucker up for the people they {are supposed to] serve.


That will be an excellent result -- regardless of who "wins" the day.

[stillwaters6]

AU CONTRAIRE...IT WILL BODE VERY WELL.

People can now determine up close and personal the true composition of the Republican Party and make an informed decision as to whether or not they wish to go along with a party that's behaving like the TALIBAN or move forward to a modern technological world based on knowledge, information, and democratic ideals.

[Surelyoujest]

"The more you read and observe about this Politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other. The one that's out always looks the best."

Will Rogers





Pretty insightful for the old guy.

[velma179]

A big Amen to that.

[reveal4]

There is a possibility in the upstate New York Congressional race with the conservative party candidate who pushed out the Republican in the race that....moderate Republicans will vote for the democrat rather than the far right candidate. This district is apparently moderate Republican. The Republicans have a choice between a moderate democrat and a far right wing "Teabagger." They also have a vote as to whether the "Tea Party" crowd will push the Republican to the far right fringe. Moderate Republicans do not agree with the far right and very well may resent the intrusion of the "Tea Party" crowd into their local race.

[jclark7613]

The far right and far left have both lost no matter what the election results are tonight. We have both left out the most important group that will make our party complete the middle of the road and moderates. Biden the President or Palin has very little effect on tonights result. The people that go to the polls to vote during mid election are true patriots and Biden or Palin will not change the person you planned to vote for. The media is putting more hype on this then deserves. My democrats will probably loss big this time around only because health care is such a heated issue but in 2010 we will recover. I stand by my President but he needs to get a back bone against the far right and mean it.

[hungry1968-17]

by Empire-George November 3, 2009 4:35 PM EST
by AJMarine12 November 3, 2009 4:33 PM EST

Hey, welcome back AJMarine-12

(Joe)







Now it all makes sense.

The lack of reasoning ability, the support of conservatism in SPITE of all the damage they caused to America, the making up facts, the wild and absurd claims lodged against the Obama administration.....

[hungry1968-17]

by Empire-George November 3, 2009 4:35 PM EST
by AJMarine12 November 3, 2009 4:33 PM EST

Hey, welcome back AJMarine-12

(Joe)







Now it all makes sense.

The lack of reasoning ability, the support of conservatism in SPITE of all the damage they caused to America, the making up facts, the wild and absurd claims lodged against the Obama administration.....

[velma179]

Yes, we do need to get back on topic (a MAJOR reason posts or posters get kicked, I imagine) --

I am on the West Coast and haven't looked at any up to date election results from back east (or even our District 10 in CA)...

Does anyone have any local news updates from NY23 or NJ or VA?

[hungry1968-17]

Polls in VA close at 7 PM EST, NJ at 8 PM, and NY at 9 PM.

1:47 to go until VA closes.

[AJMarine12]

by erasmus111 November 3, 2009 4:48 PM EST
"Kinda like me, eh lover."


Yes, kinda like you, baby. : )




I sent you an email.

I will talk to you at home sweet lips.

Kiss

[hungry1968-17]

by Empire-George November 3, 2009 4:12 PM EST
by Empire-George November 3, 2009 4:03 PM EST
Go ahead, post your diatribe against conservatism, like you always do
______

Just like I knew you would.....so predictable, so dim






It's not a "diatribe against conservatism".

It's called "posting the facts" or "enlightening the uninformed".