LDV USA: No surprises in Nov 3rd US state and city elections – Obama gets a bloody nose

In a followup piece to his preview of US Elections ’09, Paul Elgood updates us on the results of yesterdays voter ballots across America.

Somewhat predictably President Obama got a wake-up call last night in the 3rd November elections. Attention focused on a handful of contests, most notably for the Virginia and New Jersey Governor’s Mansions. Both unsurprisingly went to the Republicans – in Virginia by a wide margin, closer in New Jersey.

However, it wasn’t all bad news for the Democrats. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg got an unexpected tougher ride, with a far closer than anticipated win. The mega-rich Independent, who spend record sums on his unprecedented third re-election bid in the city only beat his Democrat challenger by 5 percentage points.

New York state’s 23rd Congressional District saw the Democrats narrowly win by 2 points. The election was called after sitting Republican John McHugh resigned to become Secretary to the Army. I won’t bore you with the saga between the Republicans and Conservatives in the seat. The Democrats held onto the left-leaning 10th District in California for the House of Representatives.

In other cities, Atlanta will see a run-off in December. Boston’s incumbent Mayor Thomas Menino captured an unprecedented fifth term and extended the longest mayoral reign in the city’s history. Miami saw voters embrace a slower paced choice for Mayor.

In Maine voters rejected a same-sex marriage proposition.

No question, a wake-up call for Obama, just a year after his historic win – but results far from devastating and which the White House will seek to quickly put behind them.

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This entry was posted in LDVUSA and Op-eds.
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5 Comments

  • Cllr Patrick Smith 4th Nov '09 - 5:44pm

    Whatever the results in these gubernatorial elections there are still estimates of 40-70 million Americans, with none or inadequate health cover, under the present unequal privatised system.

    The least off Americans deserve a better deal on access to health care..

  • Hi Neil – yes thats what I mean, but I guess not clearly written! Paul

  • I am sceptical as to how much of a setback this is.

    In NY-23, which has been solidly Republican for decades, it is a big deal that voters prefer a Democrat to some parachuted in, out of touch ideologue who is endorsed by other parachuted in, out of touch ideologues (look at his list of endorsements, Glenn Beck & Sarah Palin amongst them). The conservative “movement” & the GOP have both been given a slapping.

    New Jersey can be explained as a consequence of Corzine’s unpopularity- again, local issues (neglected by Hoffman in NY-23) come to the fore. As for Virginia, it is reverting to its natural state. People don’t have Bush to campaign & vote against but I still look forward to a Dem majority in 2010.

    http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/11/03/the-best-of-both-worlds-2/

  • Cllr Patrick Smith 8th Nov '09 - 1:40pm

    The House of Representatives have now voted 220-215 in favour of a 10 year new Health package, costed as a trillion dollar plan, to extend health care, for the 40 million people,currently without cover.

    This vote is a momentous day in American history for social inclusion of the 40 million Americans without health care provision.

    President Barack Obama has said,

    `Tonight,in an historical vote the House of Reps. passed a Bill that would finally make real the promise of quality,affordable healthcare for all American people’

    The Healthcare Bill was passed without the support of 39 `blue nosed’ Democrats, who sided with the Republicans.

    The US is the last western civilised democracy to offer its people a comprehensive health care cover.

    President Obama should be roundly applauded for his relentless recognition that all Americans must now have the same chance to receive access to health services.

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