Democrats Seek Clues in Voter Turnout

Nov. 3, 2009— -- President Obama and his team are hoping to avoid going 0 for 3 today as elections take place in several key states and districts.

The most pressing immediate political impact of a shutout may be some tougher-to-woo moderate Democratic votes on health care reform precisely at the same time the White House is looking to get this major legislative priority signed into law and off the president's desk.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has started downplaying any notion that the results today may provide some measurement of the political health of the Obama administration.

"I don't believe that local elections in Virginia and New Jersey portend a lot about legislative success or political success in the future. I just don't," Gibbs told reporters today.

The latest polls in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York's 23rd congressional district, show that the Democrats may indeed be in for a rough night.

Obviously, taking a beating at the ballot box in three over-interpreted, off-year elections does not suggest that Rep. John Boehner and Sen. Mitch McConnell should start measuring the drapes in the speaker and majority leader offices just yet.

But don't let Gibbs' pre-election attempt to downplay the results lead you to believe that the Obama White House and Democrats on Capitol Hill are not eagerly looking for warning signs on Tuesday.

The recent history of these off-year Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races has not been kind to the party holding the White House. And the first midterm election year for a new president has been equally harsh for his party.

Historic trends aside, Republican and Democratic political operatives have said they are eager to see how two key voting groups perform today.