George Stephanopoulos: Last Night's Elections Big Referendum With National Implications... For Sarah Palin

Mmmm... she was instrumental in moving a guy from 13% to 46%.

So, does that demonstrate her power? Nah.

STEPHANOPOULOS: The bottom line, when there is a civil war inside the Republican Party, a Democrat can squeak through in a district that has not gone to the Democrats since about the Civil War. So, this is a big surprise for the Democrats here. I think it was a big loss for Sarah Palin. A big win for the Democrats who poured it on in the final days especially Vice President Biden who came in the final day.

Do the big Republican wins in NJ and VA similarly mean "a big loss" for Barack Obama, who stumped multiple times for Corzine and Deeds?

Of course not; those elections are merely reflections of anti-incumbent fervor, not any sort of "big loss" for Obama.

STEPHANOPOULOS: In both states, Diane, this is really, really important. Independents now are the largest voter group in the country. They outnumber Democrats. They outnumber Republicans. And if you look back to the last three elections, 2006, 2008 and last night. These independents have become the predators of politics and incumbents are their prey. The number one issue out there right now, Diane, is the economy. Look at the exit polls in Virginia and New Jersey last night. 89 percent of voters said they were very- were worried about the economy in New Jersey. 84 percent said they were worried about the economy in Virginia. That's what is on independents' mind and the successful Republican candidates last night really focused on that.

Merely "anti-incumbent" feeling.

I'm sorry -- but can you remind me again about whether the man holding the most powerful office in the free world is currently an "incumbent" or not?

posted by Ace at 01:06 PM

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