Emily Kuhbach's column ("No mandate," Nov. 11) tried to downplay the significance of the 2009 elections but missed the bigger picture. Yes, it is the tradition of Virginia to vote against the party currently occupying the White House, but the Republicans swept all statewide offices for the first time in 12 years. For most of those 12 years, Virginia was a solidly red state, so it is indeed significant for this sweep to occur in a blue-trending state that Obama won. But the Virginia race shouldn't be viewed in isolation. In New Jersey, one of the bluest states in the Union, a weak Republican candidate, Chris Christie, defeated an incumbent governor, Jon Corzine, who outspent him by huge margins. Obama campaigned heavily for Corzine and said he was one of his best partners in the White House. Obama was rewarded for his efforts with a surprising 4-point victory for Christie. There was low turnout, but what is this an indication of? Why are Obama's "change" voters already apathetic when he urged them to turn out for his candidates? If they didn't turn out for Creigh Deeds, will they turn out for Tom Perriello or other Democrats in swing congressional districts? The 2009 elections were significant because they were an indication that Democrats have lost some of the momentum of 2008, and recent polls confirm that the Republicans are gaining momentum going into the 2010 midterms. The Real Clear Politics average has Obama's approval at 51.7 percent, which is a remarkable drop from 65 percent last February. The Gallup generic congressional ballot has the GOP in the lead for the first time in years, and Republicans candidates are polling ahead of incumbent Democrats across the nation. If Democrats continue to ignore the significance of the 2009 results as a harbinger of this national trend, they will suffer many more defeats in the years to come.
George Pisano\nCLAS II
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