17 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans wrested political control of Virginia from the Democrats on Tuesday as independent voters swung behind the GOP, a troubling sign for President Barack Obama and his party heading into an important midterm election year. New Jersey decided whether to stick with unpopular Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.
Republican Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell's victory in Virginia over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds was a triumph for a GOP looking to rebuild after being booted from power in national elections in 2006 and 2008. It also was a setback for the White House in a swing state that was a crucial part of Obama's electoral landslide just a year ago. The president had personally campaigned for Deeds.
Independents -- the crown jewel of elections because they often determine outcomes -- were a critical part of the diverse coalition that carried the president to victory in Virginia and across the country. But, in the midst of a recession, still early in Obama's term, they fled from Democrats in a state where the economy trumped all.
Early returns showed that by a 2-1 margin McDonnell was winning rapidly growing, far-flung Washington, D.C., suburbs -- places like Loudoun and Prince William counties -- that Republicans historically have won but that Obama prevailed in last fall by winning over swing voters.
