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White House says GOP wins not about Obama

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The Associated Press

Published: November 4, 2009

WASHINGTON - The White House says that Republican wins in two governors' races were not referendums on the president.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters today that voters went to the polls in Virginia and New Jersey to work through "very local issues that didn't involve the president." President Barack Obama's spokesman said voters were primarily concerned about the economy.

"I don't think the president needed an election or an exit poll to come to that conclusion," Gibbs said.

Obama called the two Republicans who won gubernatorial contests on Tuesday, Chris Christie in New Jersey and Robert McDonnell in Virginia, to offer congratulations. Obama also called Democrat Bill Owens, who won a special election for a congressional seat in New York.

Gibbs acknowledged that the 2010 midterm congressional elections will be more about the Obama agenda and said the president would be an active campaigner.

Republicans turned aside both Democratic candidates in Virginia and New Jersey, raising questions about the limits of Obama's influence on his party's base of support and on the moderate lawmakers he needs to advance his legislative priorities.

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