Democrats: Elections Not a Referendum on Obama

The Democrats seem to be positioning themselves for two and maybe three big losses in today's off-year elections. Late polls suggest that the Republicans could sweep the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia and the special congressional election in upstate New York. So Democratic strategists have been downplaying the idea that today's results will be a referendum on President Obama or his policies. 

This morning, Brad Woodhouse, communications director for the Democratic National Committee, sent an E-mail to reporters questioning whether the elections should be nationalized by the media. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters, "I don't think that these elections will portend a lot." 

Hari Sevugan, another spokesman for the DNC, tried to shift attention yesterday to "the ongoing chaos within the GOP" and argued that "no matter what the outcome, the Republican Party is already the big loser in tomorrow's elections—having been forced to abandon its own nominee at gunpoint to Glenn Beck and the rest of the far-right extremist crowd." Sevugan was referring to the special election in upstate New York in which Dede Scozzafava withdrew as the Republican nominee over the weekend in the face of a surge of support for conservative candidate Doug Hoffman. Scozzafava endorsed Democrat Bill Owens. 

Meanwhile, Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, is all smiles and is predicting a big day for the GOP. "These are bellwether races—-not just as a referendum on this administration but on our party as well," Steele said. He plans to make appearances today on behalf of the Republican gubernatorial candidates in both New Jersey and Virginia.

• See photos of Deeds and McDonnell at a Halloween event.
• See photos of the Obamas behind the scenes.