US Democrats are up for a tough battle as Republican candidates Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie topped Virginia and Democrat heartland, New Jersey, polls, respectively. The outcome is viewed as an indication of the performance of the two political parties a year after US President Barack Obama assumed power.
Democratic Party candidate Creigh Deeds called to congratulate McDonnell after securing 60% of the 80% vote count in Virginia, where most independent voters, who were on Obama’s side during the 2008 elections, have switched sides and placed their votes on the Republican during the race.
Meanwhile, Democratic Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey, who has been criticising Christie, for his affiliation with former President George W. Bush, and his take on abortion and healthcare, took a step back as current polls revealed that Christie has moved ahead of his rival, taking 50% of the vote. A New Jersey loss may put a strain on the Democratic Party in spite of President Obama backing Corzine during campaigns.
A poll win will certainly improve a political party’s chance for the 2010 midterm elections, but David Plouffe, the former campaign manager of Obama, argued that too much reading was taking place. “The results of these elections tend to be over-read,” he said on NBC network. “These are local races. There’s 18,000 lifetimes between now and next November.”
