Tuesday's Races Shed Light On American Voters - Republicans Expect Big Wins

CBNNEWS.COM

WASHINGTON -- While Americans watch game six of the World Series matchup between the Phillies and the Yankees, Democrats will be closely watching Tuesday night's election results for possible warning signs.

This election may provide a clues on how voters feel about President Barack Obama and may be an indicator for next year's midterm elections.  On this off-year election cycle, the candidates were campaigning up to the last minute.

"So, I need your help. The contrast between my opponent and me could not be sharper," New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said.  Some political analysts believe the closely watched contests in New York, New Jersey and Virginia may offer a picture about where the American public now stands ideologically -- one year after the historic election of President Obama.

"Well, we're in the middle of, I think, of a political rebellion going on in America," House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said on CNN.  Even in the lead up to Election Day, Republicans stood to make big gains with polls showing GOP candidates poised to win.

"I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to stand in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry one day to be the governor of Virginia. It's an amazing thought," Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell said.

Chris Christie -- the Republican candidate in a dead heat against New Jersey's Gov. Jon Corzine -- set himself apart from Democratic policies.  "We're gonna roll back the income tax way ... that he just increased last year. We will roll that back. We'll restore property tax rebates, we'll see to what level we can restore them based upon how much we cut the first year," Christie said.

With Democrats in control of the White House and the Congress, losses could be seen as setbacks for not only President Obama's influence, but also his agenda.  "We've got too much at stake to fall down. We've gone too far these last eight years to go in the other direction," Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds said.

The White House is expected to spin Tuesday's results, downplaying their significance on next year's midterm elections. But they do illustrate the issues most important to voters, like the economy, and could foreshadow a potential shifting political landscape for 2010