WASHINGTON (JTA) — Jewish Republicans are hailing Tuesday’s results in the New Jersey and Virginia governors’ elections.
"This off-year election was an indication of the ‘buyers’ remorse’ felt by independent voters who have found the ‘Hope and Change’ mantra of 2008 to be lacking," said the Republican Jewish Coalition in a statement Wednesday after Republican Bob McDonnell defeated Democrat Creigh Deeds in Virginia and Republican Chris Christie knocked off incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine in New Jersey.
National Jewish Democratic Council CEO Ira Forman responded that exit polls showed President Obama’s job rating at 50 percent or above in both states, and that the races were much more about state-specific issues such as taxes and jobs.
Both the NJDC and RJC ran ads in Jewish newspapers, did phone banking and handed out literature in the two states.
Also defeated Tuesday night were Jewish women running for the lieutenant governor slot in both states, Jody Wagner in Virginia and Loretta Weinberg — who did not run independently but on the same ticket as Corzine — in New Jersey.
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