Obama Not a Factor in NJ, Virginia Elections

Erica Lovley reports for Politico.com that exit polls showed that GOP wins in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races were not a referendum on President Obama.

Republicans scored big victories in both Virginia and New Jersey Tuesday, but the majority of voters in both states told poll takers that President Obama was not a factor when they cast their vote.

In New Jersey exit polls, 60 percent of voters said Obama did not figure into their decision, while 57 percent of the Virginia electorate echoed that sentiment, numbers that could potentially calm some Democrats' fears of a backlash against the administration heading into next year's mid-term elections.

--Ballard Burgher