New Leadership in the Old Dominion State -- By: NRO Staff: PHOTO
Rich Lowry discusses the meaning of Bob McDonnell’s gubernatorial victory in Virginia in today's episode of Off the Page.

Republican McDonnell wins Va. governor's race
Republican Bob McDonnell easily won the Virginia Governor's race Tuesday as independent voters who last year delivered the state to President Barack Obama shifted to the GOP.

McDonnell, Republicans Sweep Virginia: PHOTO
Bob McDonnell led a Republican sweep in Virginia on Tuesday night, ending -- at least for now -- talk that the Old Dominion was moving inexorably toward becoming a dependable "Blue State." Virginia voters had elected two Democratic senators and two Democratic Governors in the last four statewide Elections -- and went for Barack Obama in 2008 -- but one year later McDonnell inundated Democrat R. Creigh Deeds in the contest to choose the state's next Governor. Also cruising to victory were...

WaPo Chronicles How McDonnell Survived Its Smear Campaign: PHOTO
Today's Metro section front-pager by Washington Post's Amy Gardner -- "McDonnell team rose to challenge in darkest hour" -- reminded me of a line from "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" "From deep down in my stomach, with every inch of me, I pure, straight hate you. But g*d***it, do I respect you!" seethes rival TV station anchor Wes Mantooth (Vince Vaughn) to Burgundy (Will Ferrell). The Washington Post hatefully threw all it had at making the "thesis...

The familiar face of Bob McDonnell: PHOTO
A few views of Bob McDonnell. (Left: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin; center and right: AP Photo/Steve Helber.) Virginia, meet your new Governor! But it feels like you've somehow always known him, doesn't it? That's because with his crinkly-eyed smile and...

Report Card on the Pollsters in the Off-Year Races
So, how did the pollsters do in their final surveys before the key off-year races in predicting the results?

Visit Virginia Before It's Too Late
Now that Bob McDonnell is Governor of Virginia, who knows what’s in store for blacks and women?!?! So, before the new leadership goes and names more streets after its Civil War heroes, you should visit it on a day trip. It’s just lovely in the fall, what with the leaves and all. Where to visit in DC’s purplish neighbor to the south:

WaPo: Elections not a referendum on Obama, but …: PHOTO
The newspaper that tried mightily to sink Republican Bob McDonnell over a college thesis says today that his stomping of Creigh Deeds has nothing to do with the man living in the big White House over the northern border of Virginia.

Kiss of death? - W.H.: Crist 'very supportive': PHOTO
Gov Crist should stick to his initial comments. Florida is behind him even though he's Republican and not a Democrat. The Gov gets great reviews from both parties. He's honest and is always trying to do the right thing by the people of Florida. If the Gov keeps doing what he's doing and don't play partisan politics, he will win he will get significant support from Dems and Republicans a revelation which most people running for the Senate or any other office rarely enjoy. Florida is hopeful that...

Leach: U.S. suffering ‘civility crisis’: PHOTO
Related Links A Republican congressman shouts “you lie” during a presidential speech. A Democratic congressman accuses the GOP of wanting sick Americans to “die quickly.” James Leach, the newly installed chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, has had enough. During a speech to the National Humanities Conference in Omaha on Friday, Leach said America was suffering a “civility crisis.” Consequently, he plans to spend the next year and a half...

Thank You, Alex! -- By: Kathryn Jean Lopez: PHOTO
Some sense to combat the spin from Castellanos : While the conservative base was energized yesterday — conservative turnout was up 7 percent in Virginia and 5 percent in New Jersey from 2008 — something else took Republican candidates across the finish line: They remembered that their principles were good for more than saying no. Republicans won’t find a more conservative candidate than Bob McDonnell if they draw lots from National Review’s subscription list. He...

NYT: GOP Is Ripping Itself Apart & Off-Year Elections Don't Matter (Unless Dems Win): PHOTO
The G.O.P. had two big victories yesterday in off-year Elections, winning the race for Governor in New Jersey and Virginia for the first time since 1997. The New York Times's coverage was dominated by three themes used to explain away the success of Republicans: The Republicans won by appearing moderate. The congressional race in upstate New York revealed deep divisions within the G.O.P. These off-year Elections don't mean much anyway (except when Democrats win). 1) Republicans Won by...

Republicans 
rally at Bivins 
fundraiser
DIXON – A Friday night fundraiser for state Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, was supposed to be a local show, but Health Care fever in Washington turned that plan on its head. Former Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert flew to Illinois from Washington Friday to make an unscheduled speech in which he asked the approximately 300 guests to help “take back this nation” from a Democratically controlled Congress. U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, on the other hand, was scheduled to...

What Do Women Want? -- By: Kathryn Jean Lopez: PHOTO
Ask Bob McDonnell, he seems to know .

NJDC:GOP must condemn “Tea Party” signs
The National Jewish Democratic Council and Simon Wiesenthal Center are concerned by the signs on display…

GOP sweep: Big governor victories in Virginia, NJ - Yahoo! News
Washington – Independents who swept Barack Obama to a historic 2008 victory broke big for Republicans on Tuesday as the GOP wrested political control from Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey , a troubling sign for the president and his party heading into an important midterm election year . Conservative Republican Bob McDonnell's victory in the Virginia Governor's race over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds and moderate Republican Chris Christie's ouster of unpopular New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine...

'O' No! Are Off-Year Republican Victories a Referendum on Obama?
The November 2009 Election Day results as well as the exit polls in New Jersey, New York and Viriginia test the mood of the electorate one year after President Barack Obama was elected. Republican Bob McDonnell will win the Governor's race in Virginia, beating Democrat Creigh Deeds.

Sarah Palin on GOP Wins: 'Victory for Common Sense and Sanity'
After using her Facebook page to endorse candidates, speak out on issues and encourage her followers to vote in Tuesday's Elections, Sarah Palin updated the page last night to call Election Day 2009 "a victory for common sense and fiscal sanity." The former Alaska Governor congratulated Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell, the Republicans who won the top jobs in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as Kim Guadagno, the first woman to become lieutenant Governor of the Garden State. "Of course, the real...

Prisoner: I Impregnated Kate G. & Octomom: PHOTO
An Illinois prisoner claims his swimmers are responsible for Kate Gosselin 's eight AND Octomom Nadya Suleman 's latest litter ... and now he wants his supposed spawn to come live with him in lockdown. In the most entertaining handwritten court papers you'll ever read, Jonathan Lee Riches -- who has filed many Lawsuits against celebs in the past -- wants Custody of the Gosselin kids , the Suleman kids , John Edwards' love child , all the kids on "ABC's 'All My Children' " and Bristol Palin 's...

Editorial: Not a referendum on Obama -- yet
It is safe to say that the right-wing talkers and pundits who are hailing Republican gubernatorial victories in increasingly Democratic Virginia and very Democratic New Jersey as heralding the end of the Age of Obama could not pick Bob McDonnell and Chris Cristie, the respective victors in those contests, out of a police line up. Steelers hope Carter capable of filling in for Clark By ED BOUCHETTE, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has listed five possibilities to...