GOP sweeps in Virginia

Washington Post:

Virginians elected Republican Robert F. McDonnell the Commonwealth's 71st governor Tuesday, halting a decade of Democratic advances in the critical swing state.

The state's former attorney general defeated Democratic state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds with a promise to create jobs in the down economy and fix the state's clogged roadways without a tax increase.

Exit pollsters and the Associated Press have called the Virginia lieutentant governor race for incumbent Bill Bolling and the attorney general contest for Ken Cuccinelli, the GOP candidates, completing a sweep of the statewide races.

McDonnell, 55, boosted by a political mood shift that has left many voters cool to Democrats, prevailed with a disciplined economic message and a campaign that steered clear of the hot-button social issues that in recent elections had alienated voters in northern Virginia and other urban centers. The Republican also benefited from a lackluster Democratic opponent voters came to know in good part from a video clip in which he waffled and stammered when asked if he would raise taxes.

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As much as the Obama administration would like to say this does not matter, it does. The current head of the Democrat National Committee is also the current governor of Virginia. This vote represents a significant swing away from the Democrats. It probably also reflects a significantly reduced black voter turnout.

Early results in New Jersey have the Republican also leading.