Elections 2009

" Election Day is coming up on Tuesday and President Obama isn't on any ballot but many people think this could be the first real test. This president's popularity. There are two key races to watch the races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey. White house press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked today whether the outcome of those races isn't referendum. On the president."

" In 2001 if I'm not mistaken. In Virginia New Jersey. Democrat won another one of those I don't think anybody thought that. When they look at the election results in 2002 they thought that the President Bush was significantly hampered."

" We asked Karl Rove about that."

" troll in his analogy 2001. I was -- to sales -- one. President Bush made no campaign appearances in either Virginia or. New Jersey that I recall fact I'm pretty confident the aftermath of 9/11 -- made no appearances until well into 2002 in any political race in the country. It Democrats in the races have been set there can be a pretty well earlier in the year in. Democrats won both of them in the -- Friday didn't forecast what happened in 2002. Because President Bush. Campaign strong for Republican candidates on the basis of policies that the country -- be attractive what we have here is we have Democrats were clearly troubles. Particularly in Virginia because president Obama's popularity has followed through the floor and Virginia. Almost as fast and almost as far as the popularity of his policies he's clearly the Obama voters from 2000 and eight are not motivated to vote in Virginia 2009 in in New Jersey we have a blue blue blue blue state. In which the pro which president won with 57% of the vote where he's gonna have to go back on Sunday in -- to campaign appearances -- his third visit to the state. He'll make two appearances on Sunday one in the northern part of state. And one of the southern part of the state. They'll Jon Corzine trying to get back in his governor in a sense of pretty remarkable you for the White House to say this doesn't matter their spending a lot of time that a lot of effort and a lot of energy. Trying to make them and they told in fact Corzine and August we found this week in a report in politico. That they told Corzine and August you better fire your campaign pollster and bring in the Obama pollster in order to help guide your campaign in the final two months -- teammate. So -- for -- prefer White House to clinch not to be interested they're acting awfully interesting --"

" The congressional district in New York isn't unique situation because they have a Republican candidate they also have a conservative candidate -- to Republican to do there what would you do. I can you CNN's situation being duplicated in other states."

" Yeah I don't see it being duplicated elsewhere because it came about as a result of a cork in the New York flaw. The New York election code says that when there's a vacancy like the -- like this one. The -- was brought about by the Obama White House -- and otherwise undefeated -- Republican. To vacate the cedar or become secretary of army the army. It's a special election was set up in new York law says is that the county chairman in their eleven counties in the district. Choose a candidate of each party is so they had eleven Republican candidate shares hit together eight candidates came to be interviewed they settled upon. A liberal Republican assembly woman. And it made her the endorsed Republican -- reporter on the ballot. One of the others candidates who was in the one of the disappointing is if you will. A sorry neck lake -- made Hoffman. Tossed his hat in the ring as as good as on the Conservative Party lines and is that I don't I don't have an organized here party call oh sure absolutely absolutely it is because what you have is a very Republican district where the Republican vote is being split between. Two Republicans wanted more liberal Republican won a more conservative Republican now. Ironically enough the east would be the endorsed Republican candidate. According to some polls is running third in with the race now being between Hoffman the Conservative Party candidate and all of the Democrat now what has happened is is that the Republicans that leadership of the house has said if Hoffman wins we we welcome him to caucus with us. This was a good move in my opinion admitted today. I wrote about this in my column yesterday but I think it was a good move to sort of say the only if he's running first let you know it wins he's going to be with us and and surely encourage Republicans have -- torn between their loyalty to the endorsed candidate. And gold with a candidate who appears to have a better shot at winning that they can do that and I will vote Tuesday it if if Hoffman winds will be. I highly than usual because it's very unusual when you have even in a Republican or strongly Republican or strongly democratic district of the party splits. Normally what that means is the other party sneaks in and but the polls are showing that this is a very competitive race often is ahead in most of the last minute polls but -- Tuesday it's going to be a very interesting."

" No doubt about that."