11/3/2009 5:15 PM ET
(RTTNews) -
The Obama administration signaled that it would not read much into the results of three elections Tuesday that many observers are keenly watching for signs of a shifting political landscape.
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the races, for governor in New Jersey and Virginia and a special Congressional election in upstate New York, are more a reflection of local issues than any barometer of Obama's agenda or political strength.
Obama has campaigned extensively for Democratic Gov. John Corzine in New Jersey, held at least one rally for R. Creigh Deeds, the Democrat seeking the governor's mansion in Virginia and dispatched Vice President Joe Biden to New York last weekend to support the Democratic candidate there.
"This President believes that the candidates that he's made appearances for … are the best candidates for the jobs with which they're running," Gibbs said.
He added, "We don't look at either of these gubernatorial races or the congressional race as something that portends a lot for our legislative efforts going forward or political prospects in 2010."
Gibbs said that trying to read implications for the upcoming Congressional mid-term elections would be akin to forecasting next year's World Series victor based on this year's games.
"I'll let people look into their crystal balls and figure out what all this stuff means for the future," he said. "The President believes that the best candidate to lead New Jersey today and tomorrow is Jon Corzine. That's what the endorsement is about."
Gibbs added that there were also interesting elements afoot in the New York Congressional race that had drawn the attention of some senior White House staffers, particularly that the Republican candidate had been forced out of the race by a challenge from a Conservative party candidate.
"Having picked the candidate, elements of the Republican Party deciding they don't like that candidate … basically [did] what they needed to do to get that candidate off the ballot," he said. "I think there are a host of primaries that will affect 2010 next year that pit moderate Republican candidates and conservative Republican candidates."
He added, "I think many in the Republican Party hung out a sign … that moderates need not apply."
But Gibbs reiterated that the results would not greatly impact Obama's legislative agenda.
"I don't think the President is looking at these and believes that they say anything about our future legislative efforts or our future political efforts," he said. "In 2001, President Bush lost Virginia and New Jersey. I don't believe that it impacted his legislative initiatives going forward, and as I recall, happily sitting at one of the campaign committees in 2002, that the elections didn't seem unambiguous as to their results."
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