Carville: GOP ‘Gassed Up’; Obamacare in Trouble

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 11:04 PM

By: John Rossomando

Republican victories in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races showcased voter anger with the Democrats’ handling of the economy and underscored their weakness when Barack Obama is not at the top of the ticket.

Democrats were quick to deflect Republican claims the elections were a referendum on the Obama presidency and his policies or that the nation would experience a replay of 1994 next year. They noted Republicans lost the

governorships in Virginia and New Jersey in 2001, but Republicans nonetheless increased their congressional majorities during the 2002 midterm elections.

Christie’s victory in New Jersey is especially compelling considering Corzine outspent his Republican rival by nearly a 2-1 margin, and Democrats have an overwhelming voter registration advantage. The Republican won in Bergen County, located outside New York, in an area that likewise voted for Obama last year.

“It reflects what is going on locally and the situation that voters find themselves in the states. It is not a referendum on Obama,â€