11/3/2009 12:19 PM ET
(RTTNews) -
Political observers in Washington and around the country have their eyes fixed on three elections Tuesday, looking for early signs of a potential shift in political momentum.
Two off-year governor's races, in Virginia and New Jersey, and a special House election in upstate New York have drawn the attention, and funding, of national figures from both parties in what some say may be an early referendum on President Barack Obama's policies.
In Virginia, Republican candidate Robert McDonnell appears poised to claim victory over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, with a number of recent polls showing McDonnell with a large, double-digit lead over his opponent.
However, Democrats are downplaying that result as a defeat for Obama, who won the state in 2008 and has urged supporters to make phone calls to boost Deeds' efforts to mobilize voters but only campaigned with Deeds late in the race.
Some White House aides reportedly faulted Deeds for ignoring their advice and not seeking Obama's support earlier, which is seen as a sign that they were seeking to distance Obama from the likely defeat.
In New Jersey, however, Obama has campaigned extensively with incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, who polls show to be deeply unpopular and facing the blame for the state's weakened financial condition.
Republican Chris Christie had held an early lead in the polls, but recent attacks from Corzine have led to some of the anti-incumbent vote to shift to third-party candidate Christopher Daggett.
However, it is unclear whether those voters will ultimately stick with Daggett in the voting booth, and the most recent polls have shown the race to be too close to call. Some observers have speculated that the results of the race may not be known until well after polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday night.
In New York's 23rd Congressional District, Republicans are hoping to claim a victory if Conservative Party candidate Douglas Hoffman is able to defeat the relatively conservative Democrat Bill Owens.
The district, which was held by Republican John McHugh, who Obama tapped to be Secretary of the Army, is considered conservative and many national figures were incensed when state GOP leaders tapped the moderate to liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava for the race.
Scozzafava withdrew from the race after figures like Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who was also the GOP candidate for Vice President in 2008, endorsed Hoffman and polls showed Scozzafava running third behind the Democrat and Conservative candidates.
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