Is the Race for Governor More About Obama? by Sandhya Somashekhar
There is no empirical evidence at this point in Virginia’s race for governor showing that huge numbers of voters think like Cleland and will respond by sending a message to Washington. But Obama’s policies are nonetheless having immediate consequences in the campaign as the candidates adjust their strategies to account for the president’s controversial domestic agenda, which has overshadowed many state issues.
The question I have is will Obama make it about him? Keeping Virginia in Democratic hands seems to be important to him. I am sure it is important to Gov. Kaine. Obama won in Virginia just last year, but how much political capital is he going to spend on a governors race. And a governors race that doesn’t seem to be going well for the Democratic candidate at the moment. Creigh may be able to turn it around and Obama may be the person to help him. Maybe a win here would show people that he hasn’t lost his pull with the voters. We will have to wait and see.
The Washington Times has an article today on this issue, as well.
Mr. Obama, his popularity sagging amid doubts over his handing of health care and the economy, could be a liability for the Virginia Democratic candidate, according a poll published Wednesday.
Nine months after he shocked the nation by becoming the first Democrat to carry Virginia in a presidential election in 44 years, Mr. Obama has an approval rating of 42 percent among the state’s residents, according to the survey by nonpartisan Public Policy Polling, which is based in Raleigh, N.C.
