The best thing about the victories in VA and NJ is, as the Washington Post says this morning, the repudiation of a scare campaign. The two Republicans ran Rove-style attack campaigns, designed to scare voters from voting for the Democrats, and in both cases they were soundly defeated.

As much as I would like to think this is a trend for the Democrats, I want even more to believe that this is a new trend in campaigning. Republicans cannot win on ideas, and if they stop being able to win based on their fear tactics, it could result in a good future for Democrats and thus our country.

And maybe just maybe Virginia's voters issued a stamp of approval for well-run government like the past 4 years under Gov. Warner. Dare we hope?

Wow, a double mandate.

I believe that state elections seldom reflect upon the federal ruling party. IMO, people vote for the person who will run the state or local government the best, regardless of party affiliation. I tend to vote democratic for most federal elections, but I have split my vote at the state level many times. Had I seen some states elect democratic senators I might feel more of a Bush effect.

I would hardly count Bloomberg's victory as a win for Republicans. He is as much a 'Democrat in Republican clothing' as you can be, switching parties when he decided to run 4 years ago for convenience sake.

I feel like this talking point, about him retaining his position as mayor being a victory for Republicans, has been repeated in a lot of places this morning. I bet the Republicans are looking for bright spots where ever they can find them, but Salon doesn't have to hand them one at the expense of reality.

Bloomberg is far from a model Democrat, as a cursory review of his first term proves.

If all one knows about Bloomberg is that he welcomed the Republican National Convention into NYC only three years after that party's leaders reigned over the worst breach of national security ever which resulted in the deaths of thousands of New York area residents (leadership which then engaged in a systematic web of lies that killed even more of the city's finest and bravest) -- a move that invited discord and division and resulted in peaceful New Yorkers being jailed, nearly everyone's lives being disrupted and, in general, freedom of speech being stifled -- then one knows enough about Bloomberg right there.

Shame on NYC for electing the billionaire in the first place, let alone twice.