One year ago, Barack Obama did something that no Democrat had done since LBJ, carrying Virginia for Democrats in a presidential race, garnerng 53 percent of the vote in a record turnout. Democrats everywhere pointed to Virginia as the bell-weather state, moving from being solidly red to purple and on its way to being fully blue.
What a difference one year makes! Or more precisely, what a difference is made by a $787 billion economic stimulus package, a complete government take-over of the one-sixth of the economy represented by the health care system, and a world apology tour in which an American president repeatedly confessed the nation’s alleged international sins.
Bob McDonnell appears headed to winning 58-60 percent of the vote, as are both of two GOP running mates, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli, as Attorney General. The GOP almost certainly will gain seats in the state House as well, perhaps as many as 10.
What does it mean for next year’s congressional races? Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform offers this thought:
“Obama received 53 percent of the vote in Virginia in 2008. Watch what percentage of the vote the Democrat gubernatorial candidate Deeds receives. Then compare the drop off in Democrat vote percentage to the winning margins of sitting Democrats. That will tell you how many Dems may lose in 2010–No popular Obama on the ballot and no Bush to kick around as in 2008.”
One thing is certain – the fundamental narrative of national politics has changed in a very big way tonight.
