OF1-11/04/09 6:25 AM
THE WRITING ON THE WALL FROM THE VOTERS.
The Osgood File. I'm Charles Osgood.
On the morning after Election Day, the Governor of New Jersey, Democrat Jon Corzine, had to say.
SOT - Jon Corzine, New Jersey Governor - a Democrat
"At the end of the day, elections are not about the people that are running. They're about the choices we make."
And the voters chose Republican Chris Christie.
SOT - Chris Christie, New Jersey Governor-Elect - a Republican
"Hey, New Jersey --- we did it! (cheers, fade)"
In Virginia, same story: Democrat Creigh Deeds was the one who had to concede.
SOT - Creigh Deeds, Democratic candidate for Governor in Virginia
"(chanting) You guys are making this tougher than this has to be!"
And the Republican Bob McDonnell the one who gets to say...
SOT - Bob McDonnell, Virgnia Governor-Elect - a Republican
"Eight months ago, I applied for the job of Governor of Virginia. Tonight, you have hired me. Thank you. (cheers, fade)"
And in a much closer race than people expected, New York's Mayor Mike Bloomberg has been re-elected over challenger Bill Thompson, by a margin of five points: 51% to 46.
What do the election returns mean?
SOT - Marc Ambinder, CBS News Chief Political Consultant
"It was a bad night for the forces of status quo, for the incumbent party, and for the Democrats in particular."
CBS News Chief Political Consultant Marc Ambinder.
SOT - Marc Ambinder
"When you have the magnifying effect of a deep recession and this economic discontent --- which is really the most powerful force in politics --- the party in power is going to get burned."
As for President Obama? CBS News Director of Surveys Sarah Dutton...
SOT - Sarah Dutton, CBS News Director of Surveys
"60 percent of voters in New Jersey and 56 percent of voters in Virginia said that Barack Obama was not a factor in their decision who to support for Governor."
But political analyst Professor Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia says, look...
SOT - Prof. Larry Sabato, political analyst at the University of Virginia
"Look, you can't take away the night from the Republicans --- they won the two big prizes. The two big prizes always in the year after a presidential election are the Governorships of Virginia and New Jersey."
Steve Chaggaris, CBS News' director of political coverage agrees.
SOT - Steve Chaggaris, CBS News Political Director
"This is the most excitement and success that the Republicans have had in years..."
The Osgood File. Charles Osgood on the CBS Radio Network.
The Osgood File. November 4th, 2009. |
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