After three campaign appearances in two weeks by Barack Obama, two visits by VP Joe Biden, and a takeover of the Jon Corzine campaign by the White House, the White House had this to say about the race before New Jersey voters rejected Corzine and Obama in favor of their first Republican governor in over a decade:
On Friday White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said, “Whatever the results are, I don’t think they portend a lot in dealing with the future.”
Gibbs pointed out that Democrats won the New Jersey and Virginia governorships in 2001, despite the fact that then-President George W. Bush was at the height of his popularity and Republicans went on to win seats in Congress in 2002.
Maybe they should have thought of that before Obama and Corzine said this over the weekend:
In a final campaign swing on behalf of the only governor seeking re-election this fall, President Obama on Sunday pitched Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine’s bid as a key component for the White House to make good on its political promises.
“He’s one of the best partners I have in the White House. We work together,” Mr. Obama said. “We know our work is far from over. … We are two days away from making sure that New Jersey has the kind of qualified leadership that it deserves,” Mr. Obama told a raucous crowd. “We are two days away from re-electing Jon Corzine to another four years.”
Mr. Corzine, entering the final push of his close re-election bid, wrapped himself in Mr. Obama’s brand, calling him “our friend, our partner.” Citing Mr. Obama’s win a year ago, he said a victory on Tuesday would help him support the White House’s agenda.
“I’m here to ask you a simple question: Are you ready to keep it going?” Mr. Corzine said. “Today I am standing with President Obama. That tells you everything you need to know.”
Indeed it does.
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