First Blood

Virginia's Governor-elect Bob McDonnell

New Jersey's Governor-elect Chris Christie

GOP sweep: Big governor victories in Virginia, NJ

By Liz Sidoti, AP National Political Writer

WASHINGTON – Independents who swept Barack Obama to a historic 2008 victory broke big for Republicans on Tuesday as the GOP wrested political control from Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey, a troubling sign for the president and his party heading into an important midterm election year.

Conservative Republican Bob McDonnell's victory in the Virginia governor's race over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds and moderate Republican Chris Christie's ouster of unpopular New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine was a double-barreled triumph for a party looking to rebuild after being booted from power in national elections in 2006 and 2008.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Maine voted on whether to affirm a state law that would allow same-sex couples to wed. If supporters prevail, it would mark the first time that the electorate in any state endorsed gay marriage.

And voters chose a congressmen in the GOP-held vacant 23rd Congressional District seat in New York, where Democrat Bill Owens led in the early vote count over conservative Doug Hoffman. That race highlighted fissures in the Republican Party and illustrated hurdles the GOP could face in capitalizing on any voter discontent with Obama and Democrats next fall.[More]

What a miserable day for Obama. What a great day for America! It' s only the beginning of sorrows for him and the Democrat Party of Socialism, though.