White House Pooh-Poohs Republican Victories In Virginia and N.J.

According to Robert Gibbs, the chief Obama Administration spokesman,  the White House views Tuesday's  Republican gubernatorial victories, in Virginia and New Jersey, as reflections of “very local issues that didn’t involve the president" nor as referendums on President Obama.

If this is in fact the case, then it begs the question: Why did the Obama Administration spend quite a bit of time, resources, and efforts to ensure the re-election of Democrat Governor Jon S. Corzine? And why did the White House take an active role in the Virginia gubernatorial race and the New York 23 congressional race?

President Obama took time out of his schedule to fly up to New Jersey on a number of occasions to campaign for Corzine. This in spite of the miserable economy and the war in Afghanistan. And according to the New York Times, on Wednesday, "The White House, viewing New Jersey as its best hope for victory, poured resources into the race. The president’s pollster overhauled the campaign’s message, White House aides reviewed Corzine commercials and attended strategy sessions, and cabinet officials lined up to appear at Mr. Corzine’s side."

Of course the White House's public reaction to the Republican victories in Virginia and, especially, New Jersey (which is the bluest of the blue states) is pure political nonsense. As a result of Tuesdays gubernatorial elections, the Obama Administrations knows, full well, what it's in store for, come 2010, if it doesn't pull a rabbit out of its hat soon and assume a more centrist approach to governing.