Dems Losing Ground: Western States and Virginia

[Sinatra]

Yet more 2010 bellwether news coming from both Virginia and the Mountain West states region...

"Western Democrats have enjoyed stunning successes over the last three elections."

Now, however, amid a fierce conservative backlash against President Obama's agenda, Democrats face an escalating challenge to defend those advances in 2010. All signs show the momentum shifting toward Republicans in a region that has traditionally resisted the sort of assertive federal initiatives that Obama has offered on issues from the economic stimulus to health care. "Here in the West, there is a really strong concern about overly intrusive government policies," said Nicole McCleskey, a New Mexico-based Republican pollster. "I think there's a sense that maybe we overcorrected a little in the last election, we maybe went too far to that [Democratic] side, and now we are seeing the bounce-back."

The most immediate threat for Democrats, though, may be less economic than ideological. Mountain state Democrats benefited earlier in this decade from linking activist government to such kitchen-table concerns as schools and traffic, but Obama's agenda on everything from health care to climate change has ignited more ideologically charged debates about Washington's role and reach. And that has revived a grassroots anti-Washington constituency that was largely dormant during the Democratic advance.

It's not clear that Democrats can hold the region's swing voters and avoid an uprising from conservatives while attempting to implement their party's national priorities. Democrats, after all, also lost ground across these states during Clinton's presidency, and their gains since 2002 came as they were resisting Bush's ideas -- not spotlighting their own.
_____

And in Virginia...


Virginia has been kind to Democrats as of late. Eight years ago, Democrat Mark Warner captured the governor’s mansion. Four years later, his lieutenant governor, Tim Kaine, succeeded him. In 2006, Jim Webb took one of the state’s U.S. Senate seats away from the GOP. Last year, Mr. Warner took the other as Barack Obama became the first presidential candidate of his party to carry the state in 44 years.

But now the Democratic tide is ebbing in Virginia. In January Mr. Obama's approval rating was 62%, according to a Survey USA. By August it had fallen to 42%. This has important political implications both in Virginia and nationally.

In six weeks, Virginia will elect a governor, and Republican Bob McDonnell, a former state attorney general, leads Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a state senator with a moderate-to-liberal record, in every poll by a small margin. A recent poll by the nonpartisan Clarus Research Group gives him a five-point lead.

___

National Journal Magazine - Dems Lose Footing In The Mountain West

Fred Barnes: Virginia Moves Back to the Right - WSJ.com

 

[LibocalypseNow]

Seriously,who in their right mind would rush out there and vote for more Socialist Democrats? They have been a real disaster since taking over Congress a couple years ago. The People just don't want their Socialist agenda being shoved down their throats anymore. I think the Democrats really shot themselves in the foot when they put partisan hacks like Reid & Pelosi in power. They're like the gifts that just keep on giving at this point. They have both presided over by far the worst U.S. Congress in History. The beginning of the end for them was when Pelosi labelled protesters "Un-American Nazis." People really are turned off by that kind of hateful rhetoric. Most Independents will not support a party led by cretins like Pelosi & Reid. So lets just hope we can all wave bye bye to the Dems real soon.

 

[bodecea]

Yet more 2010 bellwether news coming from both Virginia and the Mountain West states region...

"Western Democrats have enjoyed stunning successes over the last three elections."

Now, however, amid a fierce conservative backlash against President Obama's agenda, Democrats face an escalating challenge to defend those advances in 2010. All signs show the momentum shifting toward Republicans in a region that has traditionally resisted the sort of assertive federal initiatives that Obama has offered on issues from the economic stimulus to health care. "Here in the West, there is a really strong concern about overly intrusive government policies," said Nicole McCleskey, a New Mexico-based Republican pollster. "I think there's a sense that maybe we overcorrected a little in the last election, we maybe went too far to that [Democratic] side, and now we are seeing the bounce-back."

The most immediate threat for Democrats, though, may be less economic than ideological. Mountain state Democrats benefited earlier in this decade from linking activist government to such kitchen-table concerns as schools and traffic, but Obama's agenda on everything from health care to climate change has ignited more ideologically charged debates about Washington's role and reach. And that has revived a grassroots anti-Washington constituency that was largely dormant during the Democratic advance.

It's not clear that Democrats can hold the region's swing voters and avoid an uprising from conservatives while attempting to implement their party's national priorities. Democrats, after all, also lost ground across these states during Clinton's presidency, and their gains since 2002 came as they were resisting Bush's ideas -- not spotlighting their own.
_____

And in Virginia...


Virginia has been kind to Democrats as of late. Eight years ago, Democrat Mark Warner captured the governor’s mansion. Four years later, his lieutenant governor, Tim Kaine, succeeded him. In 2006, Jim Webb took one of the state’s U.S. Senate seats away from the GOP. Last year, Mr. Warner took the other as Barack Obama became the first presidential candidate of his party to carry the state in 44 years.

But now the Democratic tide is ebbing in Virginia. In January Mr. Obama's approval rating was 62%, according to a Survey USA. By August it had fallen to 42%. This has important political implications both in Virginia and nationally.

In six weeks, Virginia will elect a governor, and Republican Bob McDonnell, a former state attorney general, leads Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a state senator with a moderate-to-liberal record, in every poll by a small margin. A recent poll by the nonpartisan Clarus Research Group gives him a five-point lead.

___

National Journal Magazine - Dems Lose Footing In The Mountain West

Fred Barnes: Virginia Moves Back to the Right - WSJ.com

Um, when have those states ever been liberal? I don't recall.

 

[LibocalypseNow]

Pelosi and Reid must go! End of story.

 

[Si modo]

Yet more 2010 bellwether news coming from both Virginia and the Mountain West states region...

"Western Democrats have enjoyed stunning successes over the last three elections."

Now, however, amid a fierce conservative backlash against President Obama's agenda, Democrats face an escalating challenge to defend those advances in 2010. All signs show the momentum shifting toward Republicans in a region that has traditionally resisted the sort of assertive federal initiatives that Obama has offered on issues from the economic stimulus to health care. "Here in the West, there is a really strong concern about overly intrusive government policies," said Nicole McCleskey, a New Mexico-based Republican pollster. "I think there's a sense that maybe we overcorrected a little in the last election, we maybe went too far to that [Democratic] side, and now we are seeing the bounce-back."

The most immediate threat for Democrats, though, may be less economic than ideological. Mountain state Democrats benefited earlier in this decade from linking activist government to such kitchen-table concerns as schools and traffic, but Obama's agenda on everything from health care to climate change has ignited more ideologically charged debates about Washington's role and reach. And that has revived a grassroots anti-Washington constituency that was largely dormant during the Democratic advance.

It's not clear that Democrats can hold the region's swing voters and avoid an uprising from conservatives while attempting to implement their party's national priorities. Democrats, after all, also lost ground across these states during Clinton's presidency, and their gains since 2002 came as they were resisting Bush's ideas -- not spotlighting their own.
_____

And in Virginia...


Virginia has been kind to Democrats as of late. Eight years ago, Democrat Mark Warner captured the governor’s mansion. Four years later, his lieutenant governor, Tim Kaine, succeeded him. In 2006, Jim Webb took one of the state’s U.S. Senate seats away from the GOP. Last year, Mr. Warner took the other as Barack Obama became the first presidential candidate of his party to carry the state in 44 years.

But now the Democratic tide is ebbing in Virginia. In January Mr. Obama's approval rating was 62%, according to a Survey USA. By August it had fallen to 42%. This has important political implications both in Virginia and nationally.

In six weeks, Virginia will elect a governor, and Republican Bob McDonnell, a former state attorney general, leads Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a state senator with a moderate-to-liberal record, in every poll by a small margin. A recent poll by the nonpartisan Clarus Research Group gives him a five-point lead.

___

National Journal Magazine - Dems Lose Footing In The Mountain West

Fred Barnes: Virginia Moves Back to the Right - WSJ.com

Um, when have those states ever been liberal? I don't recall.

Virginia has been blue for several years now.

 

[Maple]

Yet more 2010 bellwether news coming from both Virginia and the Mountain West states region...

"Western Democrats have enjoyed stunning successes over the last three elections."

Now, however, amid a fierce conservative backlash against President Obama's agenda, Democrats face an escalating challenge to defend those advances in 2010. All signs show the momentum shifting toward Republicans in a region that has traditionally resisted the sort of assertive federal initiatives that Obama has offered on issues from the economic stimulus to health care. "Here in the West, there is a really strong concern about overly intrusive government policies," said Nicole McCleskey, a New Mexico-based Republican pollster. "I think there's a sense that maybe we overcorrected a little in the last election, we maybe went too far to that [Democratic] side, and now we are seeing the bounce-back."

The most immediate threat for Democrats, though, may be less economic than ideological. Mountain state Democrats benefited earlier in this decade from linking activist government to such kitchen-table concerns as schools and traffic, but Obama's agenda on everything from health care to climate change has ignited more ideologically charged debates about Washington's role and reach. And that has revived a grassroots anti-Washington constituency that was largely dormant during the Democratic advance.

It's not clear that Democrats can hold the region's swing voters and avoid an uprising from conservatives while attempting to implement their party's national priorities. Democrats, after all, also lost ground across these states during Clinton's presidency, and their gains since 2002 came as they were resisting Bush's ideas -- not spotlighting their own.
_____

And in Virginia...


Virginia has been kind to Democrats as of late. Eight years ago, Democrat Mark Warner captured the governor’s mansion. Four years later, his lieutenant governor, Tim Kaine, succeeded him. In 2006, Jim Webb took one of the state’s U.S. Senate seats away from the GOP. Last year, Mr. Warner took the other as Barack Obama became the first presidential candidate of his party to carry the state in 44 years.

But now the Democratic tide is ebbing in Virginia. In January Mr. Obama's approval rating was 62%, according to a Survey USA. By August it had fallen to 42%. This has important political implications both in Virginia and nationally.

In six weeks, Virginia will elect a governor, and Republican Bob McDonnell, a former state attorney general, leads Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a state senator with a moderate-to-liberal record, in every poll by a small margin. A recent poll by the nonpartisan Clarus Research Group gives him a five-point lead.

___

National Journal Magazine - Dems Lose Footing In The Mountain West

Fred Barnes: Virginia Moves Back to the Right - WSJ.com

Um, when have those states ever been liberal? I don't recall.

I can tell you that Colorado is a swing state, they voted for Bush 2 times and supported Obama this time. I doubt that will hold true next election. Colorado, New Mexico will swing to the right.

 

[JakeStarkey]

Yet more 2010 bellwether news coming from both Virginia and the Mountain West states region...

"Western Democrats have enjoyed stunning successes over the last three elections."

Now, however, amid a fierce conservative backlash against President Obama's agenda, Democrats face an escalating challenge to defend those advances in 2010. All signs show the momentum shifting toward Republicans in a region that has traditionally resisted the sort of assertive federal initiatives that Obama has offered on issues from the economic stimulus to health care. "Here in the West, there is a really strong concern about overly intrusive government policies," said Nicole McCleskey, a New Mexico-based Republican pollster. "I think there's a sense that maybe we overcorrected a little in the last election, we maybe went too far to that [Democratic] side, and now we are seeing the bounce-back."

The most immediate threat for Democrats, though, may be less economic than ideological. Mountain state Democrats benefited earlier in this decade from linking activist government to such kitchen-table concerns as schools and traffic, but Obama's agenda on everything from health care to climate change has ignited more ideologically charged debates about Washington's role and reach. And that has revived a grassroots anti-Washington constituency that was largely dormant during the Democratic advance.

It's not clear that Democrats can hold the region's swing voters and avoid an uprising from conservatives while attempting to implement their party's national priorities. Democrats, after all, also lost ground across these states during Clinton's presidency, and their gains since 2002 came as they were resisting Bush's ideas -- not spotlighting their own.
_____

And in Virginia...


Virginia has been kind to Democrats as of late. Eight years ago, Democrat Mark Warner captured the governor’s mansion. Four years later, his lieutenant governor, Tim Kaine, succeeded him. In 2006, Jim Webb took one of the state’s U.S. Senate seats away from the GOP. Last year, Mr. Warner took the other as Barack Obama became the first presidential candidate of his party to carry the state in 44 years.

But now the Democratic tide is ebbing in Virginia. In January Mr. Obama's approval rating was 62%, according to a Survey USA. By August it had fallen to 42%. This has important political implications both in Virginia and nationally.

In six weeks, Virginia will elect a governor, and Republican Bob McDonnell, a former state attorney general, leads Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a state senator with a moderate-to-liberal record, in every poll by a small margin. A recent poll by the nonpartisan Clarus Research Group gives him a five-point lead.

___

National Journal Magazine - Dems Lose Footing In The Mountain West

Fred Barnes: Virginia Moves Back to the Right - WSJ.com

Um, when have those states ever been liberal? I don't recall.

Virginia has been blue for several years now.

Tell the truth. Virginia has been split, not blue for several years. The Intermountain West has generally been GOP for many years, with a couple of notable personality exceptions, such as Harry Reid. And the LDS in Nevada are not going to vote Harry out. So stop your lying.

 

[Sinatra]

Um, when have those states ever been liberal? I don't recall.

Virginia has been blue for several years now.

Tell the truth. Virginia has been split, not blue for several years. The Intermountain West has generally been GOP for many years, with a couple of notable personality exceptions, such as Harry Reid. And the LDS in Nevada are not going to vote Harry out. So stop your lying.

___

You seem to be missing the point of the article - Virginia has long been considered a political bellwether, and as such, appears to be pointing toward a return to the Republican Party. This could be (not will be mind you) a sign the nation is shifting as well as we head into the 2010 election cycle.

As for the Mountain West region, as the article points out, Democrats made considerable gains in a number of states during the Bush years. Those gains now appear to be crumbling, as voters, like in Virginia, are shifting back to a more conservative position in light of Obama and the current liberal Democrat leadership.

2010 is shaping up to be a corrective election, where Americans intuitively want more balance in Washington DC...

 

[JakeStarkey]

The article misses the point. Neither the Intermountain West nor Virginia are bellweather regions this year. Tell the truth.

 

[bodecea]

Yet more 2010 bellwether news coming from both Virginia and the Mountain West states region...

"Western Democrats have enjoyed stunning successes over the last three elections."

Now, however, amid a fierce conservative backlash against President Obama's agenda, Democrats face an escalating challenge to defend those advances in 2010. All signs show the momentum shifting toward Republicans in a region that has traditionally resisted the sort of assertive federal initiatives that Obama has offered on issues from the economic stimulus to health care. "Here in the West, there is a really strong concern about overly intrusive government policies," said Nicole McCleskey, a New Mexico-based Republican pollster. "I think there's a sense that maybe we overcorrected a little in the last election, we maybe went too far to that [Democratic] side, and now we are seeing the bounce-back."

The most immediate threat for Democrats, though, may be less economic than ideological. Mountain state Democrats benefited earlier in this decade from linking activist government to such kitchen-table concerns as schools and traffic, but Obama's agenda on everything from health care to climate change has ignited more ideologically charged debates about Washington's role and reach. And that has revived a grassroots anti-Washington constituency that was largely dormant during the Democratic advance.

It's not clear that Democrats can hold the region's swing voters and avoid an uprising from conservatives while attempting to implement their party's national priorities. Democrats, after all, also lost ground across these states during Clinton's presidency, and their gains since 2002 came as they were resisting Bush's ideas -- not spotlighting their own.
_____

And in Virginia...


Virginia has been kind to Democrats as of late. Eight years ago, Democrat Mark Warner captured the governor’s mansion. Four years later, his lieutenant governor, Tim Kaine, succeeded him. In 2006, Jim Webb took one of the state’s U.S. Senate seats away from the GOP. Last year, Mr. Warner took the other as Barack Obama became the first presidential candidate of his party to carry the state in 44 years.

But now the Democratic tide is ebbing in Virginia. In January Mr. Obama's approval rating was 62%, according to a Survey USA. By August it had fallen to 42%. This has important political implications both in Virginia and nationally.

In six weeks, Virginia will elect a governor, and Republican Bob McDonnell, a former state attorney general, leads Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a state senator with a moderate-to-liberal record, in every poll by a small margin. A recent poll by the nonpartisan Clarus Research Group gives him a five-point lead.

___

National Journal Magazine - Dems Lose Footing In The Mountain West

Fred Barnes: Virginia Moves Back to the Right - WSJ.com

Um, when have those states ever been liberal? I don't recall.

Virginia has been blue for several years now.

Not with the anti-gay legislature. They most certainly are not liberal.

 

[Si modo]

Um, when have those states ever been liberal? I don't recall.

Virginia has been blue for several years now.

Not with the anti-gay legislature. They most certainly are not liberal.

Read what I said.

 

[Kalam]

McDonnell is a misogynistic nutbar. If half of his supporters bothered to familiarize themselves with his views, he'd lose. Deeds has been making gains recently, especially with female voters... hopefully, he'll win.

 

[Sinatra]

Um, when have those states ever been liberal? I don't recall.

Virginia has been blue for several years now.

Not with the anti-gay legislature. They most certainly are not liberal.

So by that logic, California is not a liberal state?

 

[Polk]

Virginia has been blue for several years now.

Democrats won the last two gubernatorial races by running center-right candidates and have both Senate seats because in one race the GOP candidate completely imploded down the stretch and in the other because they ran a wildly popular former governor against very weak candidate.

 

[Polk]

I can tell you that Colorado is a swing state, they voted for Bush 2 times and supported Obama this time. I doubt that will hold true next election. Colorado, New Mexico will swing to the right.

New Mexico will remain the Democratic column. Latinos now make up 40 percent of New Mexico voters, and Republicans have really thrown away a growth opportunity with the bitter anti-immigrant rhetoric.

 

[Sinatra]

In the Colorado Senate race, we see Republican Jane Norton with a near 10-point lead over Michael Bennet by nearly ten points. This likely led to President Obama declaring his endorsement of Bennet in an attempt to stem the tide of voter support for Norton. Norton's stance has been very aggresively anti-big government and even anti-Obama, which appears to be resonating with Colorado voters at this time.

Of course, that could change, but for now, Colorado appears to have shifted its political leanings to right of center again...

Election 2010: Colorado Senate Race - Rasmussen Reports™