Josh Goodman is a former staff writer for GOVERNING..
E-mail: mailbox@governing.comTwitter: @governing
From Marc Ambinder:
First things first: even in a year when the composition of the electorate is dramatically different than the 2008 presidential election, President Obama's approval rating in Virginia is 51% among voters surveyed. In New Jersey, it's 57%. Fewer than half of voters for Bob McDonnell, the Republican gubernatorial candidate in VA, say they voted to send a message to Obama. About 38% of voters for Chris Christie, the New Jersey GOPer, tried to send a message, too. 38% of CreighDeeds voters said their vote for the Democrat was to support Obama.
Last year, Obama took 57% of the vote in New Jersey and 53% of the vote in Virginia.
Josh Goodman is a former staff writer for GOVERNING..
E-mail: mailbox@governing.com 
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