Some Historical Perspective

[EarlG]

November 2001

The Democratic Party reveled Wednesday in its ability to snatch back two governor's posts from the GOP, saying the victories of Mark Warner in Virginia and Jim McGreevey in New Jersey indicate the public is willing to put their trust back in the party, after years of Republican triumphs at the national, state and local level.

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/11/07/2001.elex.governors/index.html

November 2002

In a historic night for the GOP and President Bush, Republicans seized control of the Senate, held onto their majority in the House and savored wins in two hot gubernatorial races, CNN projected early Wednesday. Returns were still coming in early Wednesday morning, but it appeared possible that Republicans could build on the six-seat majority in the House they held going into the elections.

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/11/06/elec02.main.day/

November 2009

A Republican Party that struggled in the wake of recent Democratic landslides sprang back to life Tuesday with wins in hotly contested races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey ... Republicans leaders, demoralized after landslide defeats in 2006 and 2008, have been hoping to capitalize on wins in Virginia and New Jersey to help fuel a nationwide Republican resurgence.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/03/2009.elections/

November 2010

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[emulatorloo]

1. Very Very Interesting n/t

[Nye Bevan]

2. Reagan had no coat-tails either

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_1982

Dems gained 27 seats in the 1982 midterms. And of course Reagan went on to win 49 states in 1984.

More recently of course the 1994 midterms looked bad for Clinton. But he still trounced Dole in 1996.

Everyone loved to obsess over this stuff in off-years but it pretty much means nothing.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Yes. Ruth Marcus's column in the WP this morning was good. nt