Election Tea Leaves

Ron Brownstein says in the LAT that the Kaine and Corzine wins are "sending new tremors through Republicans worried that President Bush's sagging popularity may drag down the party in next year's midterm elections...The decisive twin victories sent Democratic spirits soaring."

Robin Toner in the NYT : "After months of sagging poll ratings, scandal and general political unrest, the Republicans badly needed some good news in Tuesday's elections for governor. What they got instead was a clear-cut loss in a red state, and an expected but still painful defeat in a blue one."

Dick Polman in the Philadelphia Inquirer : "Plagued by bad polls, an unpopular war, top aides under indictment or investigation, and a legislative agenda in limbo, President Bush badly needed to score some good news yesterday in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial elections to demonstrate that he is still a political kingmaker.

"But, judging by the results, Republicans may well conclude that he has become political baggage."

While Jersey was no shocker, "Virginia is a different story. Bush put his reputation on the line by campaigning at the eleventh hour for Republican Jerry Kilgore - in a reliably 'red' state that Bush won last November by eight percentage points - yet Kilgore was hammered by the triumphant Democrat, Tim Kaine."

The WP focused on a possible '08 contender, saying Kaine's win "presented an intriguing campaign model for Democrats, in which religious faith plays an important role. And most of all it demonstrated the appeal of Gov. Mark R. Warner (D), for whom this could become the first stop of a presidential campaign."

The New York Post 's Deborah Orin finds a Hillary angle: "President Bush got a direct rebuff yesterday when Virginia -- which voted for him last year -- elected Democrat Tim Kaine as its new governor, but the vote was also a warning for Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"Kaine's 51-46 percent win over Republican Jerry Kilgore marked a big success for outgoing Democratic Gov. Mark Warner, who claims to know the formula to win GOP states and is a likely Clinton 2008 rival."

I hope those Virginia voters realized what they were doing!

Daily News columnist Michael Goodwin says Bloomberg's 20-point win could elevate him to the top ranks:

"LaGuardia set the standard, but he is more legend than person. Ed Koch embodied that spirit of oneness for much of his 12 years, and still does by remaining part of the urban fabric. Rudy Giuliani could seem like an alien at times, but anyone who doesn't recognize his contributions to the rejuvenation of our city is either nuts or dishonest. And his leadership on and after 9/11 will stand forever.

"Bloomberg, for all his accomplishments, has not scaled those heights. Competent is the most common word used to describe him, and it's a backhanded compliment. He's more - a good mayor in many ways and a very good mayor in some ways. Still, competent is what most people feel about him.