David Broder
11/5/2009

This week’s elections bore out several important themes in advance of next year’s midterm congressional campaign. The governors’ races in Virginia and New Jersey both showed that a strong conservative candidate can succeed in traditionally liberal states. Moreover, President Obama campaigned heavily for the incumbent Governor Corzine in New Jersey, so that defeat carries a particular weight. However, the congressional race in New York does show a significant tension between moderates and conservatives in the Republican Party that must be resolved if they are to capitalize on this momentum next year.

Broder is a twice-weekly columnist for The Post, writing on national politics.

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