WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says that Republican wins in two governors' races were not referendums on the president.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters Wednesday that voters went to the polls in Virginia and New Jersey to work through "very local issues that didn't involve the president." President Barack Obama's spokesman said voters were primarily concerned about the economy.
Obama called the two Republicans who won gubernatorial contests on Tuesday, Chris Christie in New Jersey and Robert McDonnell in Virginia, to offer congratulations. Obama also called the two Democrats who won special elections for congressional seats in New York and California, and independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who won re-election in New York City.
Gibbs acknowledged that the 2010 midterm congressional elections will be more about the Obama agenda and said the president would be an active campaigner.
Republicans turned aside both Democratic candidates in Virginia and New Jersey, raising questions about the limits of Obama's influence on his party's base of support and on the moderate lawmakers he needs to advance his legislative priorities.
cargogirl said on November 4, 2009 at 5:37 PM
ofcourse its not, and if the dems would have won, it would be all about obama, especially since he went to jersey 5 times for corzine, not to mention va. and ny for his dems. it showed the ones who came out to the rallies only came to see obama, mostly black, but most of them dont vote and are not registered to vote. they said in nj acorn,aclu and seiu were out getting ppl. to vote, and the seiu were in hospitals getting patients to sign absentee votes since most hospital workers belong to seiu, guess what, the acorn and associates voter fraud didnt work this time, acorn is on trial in over 12 states now for voter fraud and a lot have pled guilty, i just hope congress dont fund acorn again in december, but if obama gets his way, they will,