VA-GOV candidate Bob McDonnell and NJ-GOV candidate Chris Christie
President Obama will wake up Wednesday morning on the one-year anniversary of his historic election with two fewer Democratic governors he can call allies.
In New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie unseated Gov. Jon Corzine (D). Virginia Republicans swept the statewide races and picked up seats in the state house as Republican former attorney general Bob McDonnell walloped state Sen. Creigh Deeds (D) by more than 15 points.
Here's what we know:
The White House expected to lose in Virginia, but they had high hopes the Obama machine would get voters fired up for Corzine.
Obama aides told CNN the president wouldn't watch returns, and instead would watch a basketball game.
Requests for comment or details about whether Obama spoke to the Republican victors have been met with radio silence and Obama is getting out of town Wednesday for an education speech in Wisconsin.
For days the White House has been saying the results should not reflect on Obama or his agenda going forward, but that's going to be a tough sell.
RNC Chairman Mike Steele will gloat.
It's unclear if the tea-partiers-emboldened storyline will hold up, since as of this writing the Democrat Bill Owens holds the lead in New York's 23rd Congressional district over the conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman. Conservatives say they are rallying together to nominate strong candidates in 2010.
Organizing for America put in effort to help Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey, but tonight already was moving on for a full focus on the future. OFA asked supporters to make calls about health care as House Democrats outlined the final details of their bill.
(Speaking of health care, both of the Republican governors-elect have said they would opt out of the public option if that were to pass.)
As OFA holds reunions in celebration of the 2008 anniversary, some Democrats involved at the state level are questioning the lasting strength of the Obama grassroots army.
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