Republicans Ahead In New Jersey & Virginia Governor Races
Despite strong showings by President Barack Obama in New Jersey and Virginia last year, in this November’s gubernatorial races, polls show that the Republican candidates are ahead in these states. These are the only states that are holding elections for governor this year.
Reuters reports that New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, a close Obama ally, is struggling to win re-election in heavily Democratic New Jersey due to the strong challenge by Republican Christopher Christie.
“Corzine is in trouble,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Its polls show Christie leading by 7 to 12 points since the start of 2009.
In Virginia, Democrat Creigh Deeds has been losing so much ground in the polls to Republican Bob McDonnell that he has blamed the Obama administration’s $787 economic stimulus plan for his low popularity, Reuters stated.
A Washington Post poll published on Friday gave McDonnell a commanding lead of 53 percent to 44 percent, with less than a month to go until election day.
“Frankly, a lot of what’s going on in Washington has made it very tough,” Deeds told Politico newspaper.
Typically the poll numbers narrow as the elections draw near. A defeat for Democrats in these races could reflect the first judgments on the Obama presidency.
Democrats currently hold 28 governorships in the 50 states, while Republicans have 22.
