Republicans elected Governor in Virginia and New Jersey

Virginia is no surprise. Bob McDonnell the Republican Attorney General had been leading Democratic state Senator Creigh Deeds the Democratic candidate for weeks. There was hope, Virginia has two Democratic U.S. Senator's and voted for Obama in 2008, the first time a Democrat won the state in a presidential election since 1964. However Bob McDonnell ran a great campaign, a lot of people in Virginia are worried about jobs and the economy and health care, well whats going on with health care? Put it all together and you've got a GOP victory in every statewide race in Virginia. For the first time since 2001, Virginia has a Republican governor. Deeds wasn't a strong candidate, Brian Moran probably would have been stronger but oh well, 2013 is not far off. Who knows maybe Mark Warner will get tired of Washington and think about running for governor again? Doubtful, Warner is running for President in 2016. Maybe Democrats in Virginia will pull another winning candidate out of the hat like they did in 2001 with Warner and 2005 with Kaine. Hey, Tim Kaine, want to run for Governor in 2013? Who knows!


Now New Jersey is a shocker. I've never lived in New Jersey but I know New Jersey is a solid Democratic state. Christie Whitman won the governor's race in 1993 and was narrowly re-elected in '97. In 2001 the state put Jim McGreevey in the Governor's Mansion and well you know what happened with him. Jon Corzine who spent $60 million to win a Senate seat in 2000 came home, ran for Governor and won. Polls showed that the race would be close but honestly I expected the ex Goldman Sachs Chief to pull it off. The state has two Democratic U.S. Senator's and Republican Presidential candidates don't even bother with New Jersey in the final weeks, its a Democratic state!! So what happened last night? Taxes, Taxes, Taxes!!! Voter's liked Corzine four years ago. New Jersey was in a financial mess. Corzine was a powerhouse at one of the largest investment banks on Wall Street, a U.S. Senator however the Governor was unable to deliver on his promises to control spending and lower property taxes. The state income tax rose, New Jersey depends on wealthy resident's to pay more in taxes, well a lot of those wealthy resident's took a huge loss with their own investments and loss of jobs and it became difficult to manage New Jersey finances. Put it all together and New Jersey showed Jon Corzine the door last night. Bob Menendez to save the day in 2013??? Perhaps Frank Pallone? We shall see!