The First spokesman has spoken: Tuesday’s elections were not about the president after all.
In the New Jersey and Virginia governor races, which Republicans won, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says voters were working through “very local issues that didn’t involve the president.”
For his part, President Barack Obama, who campaigned for both Democrats who lost, received updates on the races but didn’t watch the election returns last night.
Gibbs warns not to make too much of that: “I wouldn’t read a ton into that since he didn’t actually watch election returns when he was running.”
And then he plugged the HBO documentary about Obama that ran last night (a sure sign they liked what they saw). “If you did watch the movie on HBO, we called him and told him he won Iowa. He did not watch election returns.”
That was of course a year ago, and Reuters White House Correspondent Caren Bohan describes Gibbs this morning as somewhat wistful about the anniversary of Grant Park and Obama’s election night celebration.
So what were Tuesday’s election results all about then?
The White House is emphasizing that local issues were the main concern for voters, such as property taxes in New Jersey. Gibbs also acknowledged the economy is very much on people’s minds.
“I think voters are concerned about the economy. I don’t think the president needed an election or an exit poll to come to that conclusion,” he said.
“If the president had been asked by an exit poller yesterday ‘are you concerned about the economy?’ He would have answered ‘yes’,” Gibbs said.
What do you think was the message from voters in Tuesday’s elections?
Click here for more Reuters political coverage
Photo credit: Reuters/Jason Reed (Gibbs speaks to reporters on Air Force One in March)
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3 comments so far
I imagine if you asked the voters why they chose to support one canidate over the other, most of them would say that Obama and congress didn’t figure into their vote.
But I have absolutely no doubt that if the results had been the opposite, Democrats would be saying this was confirmation that the public supported their actions. Just like I’m sure some Republicans will be saying the results confirm their resistance to healthcare and climate change are what the public wants.
- Posted by drewbieDear Barack,
- Posted by Thank YouPlease continue to campaign for Democratic candidates in future elections. The Republicans welcome all your help.
Thank you.
If New Jersey rejected the incumbant because of high property taxes, don’t you think that the voters will reject any candidate that supports higher taxes on a National, State or Local level?
It isn’t hard to see that the public votes with their wallet (and they should). The Health Care Reform being pushed by the Democrats doesn’t address the higher costs of medicine because of:
Crazy jury awards for medical “malpractice”
The “haves” having to pay for the “have nots” at hospitals.
Patients accepting extra tests and treatments because they don’t know the costs.
High cost of medicine because the patent period is too short.
The delays caused by the slow approvals from the FDA.
The ridiculous health coverage granted to unions and government workers paid for by additional charges to the private sector.
Get real and tell your Congressman and Senators that enough is enough. Address the issues above in any reform bill.
- Posted by Russell