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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



A referendum on Obama? Not really

Posted: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 6:35 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Mark Murray
MSNBC has been reporting on the early exit polls in New Jersey and Virginia. One of the questions: Was your vote in those gubernatorial contests to express support for President Obama or to express opposition? Or was he not a factor in your decision?

Well, according to the exits, 60% of New Jersey voters said Obama wasn't a factor in their decision. By comparison, 20% said they were expressing opposition, and 19% said they were expressing support. Obama's approval in the Garden State is 57% -- which matches the percentage he won in the state in last year's presidential election.

In Virginia, 55% of voters said Obama wasn't a factor, while 24% said they were expressing opposition, and 18% said they were expressing support. Obama's approval rating in the state, according to the exits, is 51% -- which is just two points off the percentage he won in Virginia last year.

*** UPDATE *** With a new wave of exit data in Virginia, Obama's approval is 52% there, and 57% in the state said that the president wasn't a factor in their decision.

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Pam

Had a dream you were in the lake and the fish were standing on the shore with a pole and a net.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Louisiana CoCo (Sent Tuesday, November 03, 2009 5:26 PM)

I think it means I'm getting to you!! LOL!!

Sleep well now, ya hear!!
Thank you Pam - it's time to make ourselves heard again - in the Congress and the White House they are taking us for granted, and we can not let that happen any more  
Saint Dick, Dallas, TX (Sent Tuesday, November 03, 2009 5:14 PM)

You're quite welcome, Dick; I only wish there were many more that would STOP making excuses for President Obama!! You wrote an excellent, excellent post; I'm with you a thousand percent friend!!
From an earlier thread -

Concerning Ronald Reagan - He never met a social program he didn't scorn. He never met an American in need he didn't s*it directly upon. His response to the AIDS epidemic is one of the most sickening cold-blooded expressions of pure murderous political evil in the history of the earth
Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Tuesday, November 03, 2009 3:22 PM)
Pam, thank you for getting this posted – I have been trying to respond to Obama’s critics (note unfair criticism) for weeks with rebuttals about Reagan but they never get posted
Reagan labeled AIDS a “gay disease” which has put us 30 years behind the scientific 8-ball, because according to Republicans if it indeed was a gay disease, then who cares, right? And Science – dear Lord, science is for fools!!
He completely neutered the Public School system, especially in lower income neighborhoods and started a class war that is still with us today – this is why GWB is so revered – he spent like Reagan and attacked all but the top 1%, just Ronnie Ray-Gun
Alan Greenspan has finally turned the corner by admitting Trickle-Down Economics (Reagonomics) does NOT work – yet the Wing Nuts still are waiting to be peed on by the richest of us all. They vote against their own interest, and still think the Trickle will come anytime now….but until then - TAX CUTS (but not for me) TAX CUTS (but not for me) and it goes on and on – they have been lied to and manipulated so long, they still can’t wrap their minds around it. Reagan, Bush & GWB all left office with huge deficits, and Clinton left with a surplus – and they still don’t see it - they still make fun of Carter for putting Solar panels on the White House, but they still want to fight the terrorist (if you don’t get the connection I feel sorry for you) – they want to end abortion – because of right to life – but they let the Death Penalty continue and endorse needless wars and let 45,000 people die annually because of lack of insurance. It’s only right to BIRTH for these people, then you are on your own – even if it means the mother dying by being pregnant or she is forced to give birth because of a rape.
Until these people vote for REAL values, then they have no hope whatsoever of being relevant again
Oscar, Rio Vista CA (Sent Tuesday, November 03, 2009 6:10 PM)

First off, I was shouting from my roof top; I think Bush and his cronies should be at The Hague!! I posted on the old Newshole, the old blog of Keith Olbermann, for more than three years!!

I am a very liberal democrat who voted for Obama; and yes, SOME of the things I listed, like the repeal of DODT should have been done by now!!

Try asking me who I support first!! And just because one likes President Obama, DOES NOT MEAN he has done a good job to date!! He waffles on things that were the cornerstone of his campaign!!

I've always voted democrat, since I was 18 and was fortunate enough to have voted for Jimmy Carter!!

So get off my back; you have NO clue what you speak of!!

The honeymoon is over for Obama; get used to us "liberal democrats" holding him to account!!

PERIOD!!
Even if Corzine loses, Deeds loses and Owens loses, it's just a start, not a trend.

Time will tell.
MSNBC, I'm as far to the left as you can get; however, please stop making excuses for what this Democratic Congress, and President Obama, has failed to do!!

Chuck Todd wrote the most ridiculous article yesterday, trying to head off any criticism that, God forbid, may be directed at the democrats, and specifically, President Obama!!

The most ridiculous statement in his article was this one:  "The elected official who most needs to do this is President Obama. He needs a veto of some Democratic, pork-filled bill. Or a high-profile firing. The fact is there are a lot of "change" voters from 2008 who are still looking for change. Many of these voters are angry independents."

NO, Mr. Todd, or as a good friend of mine calls him, "that font of wisdom," MANY of these voters are angry democrats upset with President Obama for dragging his feet on campaign promises near and dear to those who voted for him!! What he needs to do is get moving!! DODT, Gitmo, HCR, bringing our troops home, etc. etc. etc.!! PLEASE!!

Seriously!! Okay, Mr. Todd, just fire some high-profile cabinet person for the heck of it and that will surely make everything swell!!

OR, bring the troops home, end DODT, close Gitmo and demand a public option in HCR!! How about one of THOSE things, Mr. Todd?!?!

Sheesh!!

I nearly fell off my chair when I read that ridiculous statement!!

Nice try, Mr. Todd; however, no one is buying your crapola!!

For things to turn around for President Obama, the democrats in Congress MUST stand up to the rethugs, and President Obama MUST fulfill what he promised while campaigning!!
Pam and Saint Dick:

I am glad, however, that you both watched the James Brolin made for TV movie about Reagan.

At least you sourced your lies and distortions.

A good reason to not be too impressed with journalism degrees.
My washing machine just went onto the SPIN CYCLE......
Democrats! No, it doesn't mean a thing. Nothing at all. Just keep doing what your doing. Believe me, you're on the right track.
A good reason to not be too impressed with journalism degrees.
Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, November 03, 2009 7:35 PM)

Yeah, Richard, and Iran-Contra never happened either!! As another good friend of mine says about those like you: LOOK AMERICA! ELVIS!


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