Democrats do badly without Obama

The Democrats in America are downplaying their loss of the state of Virginia in three key elections, the first real test of President Obama’s popularity and theirs since their landslide election win.

Virginia backing Republican Bob McDonnell was no real surprise. Last year was the first time the Democrats had won the state in over 40 years, and this time there was no wow factor candidate to draw voters in.

Results in two other areas will be more keenly watched. New Jersey is prime Democrat country but Governor John Corzene has been ousted by the Republican’s Chris Christie, despite sinking 20 million of his personal fortune into beating off the challenge and three supporting visits by Obama. Republicans had not won here for over 12 years.

In New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been reelected after outspending his rival 13 to 1. He will serve a third term in office, but it has cost him. Some estimates put his spend at 140 million dollars, a US record. His personal fortune is thought to be around 16 billion dollars.

Copyright © 2009 euronews

tags: Barack Obama, Elections, USA