FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
For someone who electrified the electorate during his run for the White House, President Obama isn't getting it done when it comes to helping out his fellow Democrats.
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The losses just keep piling up: First his candidates lost the governor races in New Jersey and Virginia; then came the shocking loss of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts.
And now, Republican-turned-Democrat Senator Arlen Specter - who was backed by the president - has been turned out. His career in the U.S. Senate is over
Suddenly Democratic incumbents are like deer on the opening day of hunting season, running for cover and fearing the worst.
Come November...one or both houses of Congress could fall to the Republicans. As one top Democrat tells the New York Daily News: "If the election were held today we'd lose both houses."
And it seems like the White House is starting to get it. After his guys got their hats handed to them in Massachusetts, Virginia and New Jersey, President Obama pretty much stayed away from Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania.
But it's worth pointing out that some of these candidates didn't want the President's help either; they don't want to get too close to a president with mediocre approval ratings whose policies - like health care reform - aren't popular everywhere.
Meanwhile the White House is busy spinning another awful day the best they can. They claim the race that meant the most was the Pennsylvania congressional seat - where Democrats managed to hold onto the late Congressman Murtha's seat.
The White House also cites weak candidates in the other races as well as a toxic political environment for incumbents.
Here’s my question to you: To what extent are yesterday's election results a referendum on President Obama?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Paulette in Dallas, Pennsylvania writes:
100%. The way Specter in Pennsylvania was hung out to dry was shameful. That man put thirty years of his life on the line by crossing the aisle and voting for the stimulus package. He had no choice but to convert to being a Democrat then. I'm sure he was promised the world and on Election Day, Obama was in Youngstown, Ohio. This shows me how he honors his word.
Sean writes:
I think it's more of a referendum on how pitiful Congress is and the Democrats' agenda than it is on Obama personally. I think Republicans are likely to get every bit as much of a wake-up call come election time. Just look at the number of incumbent Republicans who are struggling in the primaries and you can see. However, if Obama doesn't learn to govern from the center, he will have a rude awakening in 2012.
Bob in Arizona writes:
Arlen Specter was not a Democrat. He was an opportunist. This was not a vote against Barack Obama... it was a vote against someone whose only goal was to remain in office.
Steve writes:
What about the special election for Rep. Murtha's seat? Isn't that a referendum on Obama showing that Pennsylvania swing voters who voted for McCain are now voting Democratic?
Bill writes:
Hey Jack. I think we have to wait for the fall elections. These are critical six months for Obama. If he loses both houses it will be a "No vote of confidence". If they can create good paying jobs, all this anger will evaporate very fast. "It is the economy stupid" said the bold man years ago. That phrase will stand for ever.
Catherine writes:
Absolutely a referendum on the president. Even the people who voted for Obama are now realizing what a mistake it was. He is not listening to the American people, the idea that we don't know what is good for us is becoming more than insulting. I can't wait for November.