The GOP Wins Big in Tuesday's Elections

WASHINGTON -- Today is the first anniversary of President Obama's historic election but it is yesterday's election results that has the political world talking.

Voters in New Jersey and Virginia sided with republicans in governors' races that showed independents are not happy with the president or his party.

Exactly one year ago, Barack Obama and the democrats were riding high after winning the White House.

But today it's the republicans who are celebrating, after seizing two governors' seats, with strong support from the independents who voted for change in 2008.

"The message was sent yesterday. It's not about the change we need, it's about the change we want," said RNC Chairman Michael Steele.

In the democratic stronghold of New Jersey, republican Chris Christie knocked off embattled incumbent Governor Jon Corzine.

And in the swing state of Virginia republican Bob McDonnell crushed democrat Creigh Deeds.

"What Virginians were concerned about jobs, bread and butter issues," said McDonnell. "They're not interested in rhetoric, they're interested in results."

Democrats insist it wasn't a referendum on the president or his policies.

"The exit polls showed very strongly that the voters in both states still have a very favorable view of how this president is doing his job at a very tough time," said DNC Chairman and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine.

The White House says rising unemployment and a down economy didn't help

"No one expected anybody to be doing cartwheels and cheering and pumping their fists in the air at a time when we're dealing with such a difficult, difficult economy," said White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod.

At an education event in Wisconsin, President Obama looked back briefly on his historic election.

"We knew that we faced an array of challenges that would test us as a people," the president said.

But the results of this election could make it harder to keep his party together as he pushes Congress to pass health care reform.

After a democrat grabbed a republican seat in upstate New York, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi put a positive spin on a bad night for her party.

"From my perspective, we won last night," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

And democrats are hoping this isn't a preview of the all-important mid-term elections that are yet to come.

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