LET THE EXCUSES BEGIN - AT 8:33 A.M. ET:  We've been following the governorship races in Virginia and New Jersey.  We caution that we are still three months away from the elections, but the news isn't good for the Dems.  Even a Daily Kos poll brings grim tidings for the party of goodness and climate change:

Two new independent polls show Republicans with comfortable leads in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, which, if they hold, could cause the White House a major political headache in November.

In New Jersey, former U.S. attorney Chris Christie (R) led Gov. Jon Corzine (D) 48 percent to 40 percent while in Virginia former state attorney general Bob McDonnell (R) held a 51 percent to 43 percent edge over state Sen. Creigh Deeds (D).

Both surveys were conducted for the liberal Daily Kos blog by Research 2000 and showed the Republican candidates extending their leads from similar polls conducted earlier this summer.

"If Democrats lose not only will people call into question the Democratic party brand but also the brand of Barack Obama," said Penny Lee, the former executive director of the Democratic Governors Association.

COMMENT:  The key to both races is unrelenting work.  Those leads aren't so huge.  Both are eight points, and New Jersey, in particular, is a reliably Democratic state.  As we reported last night, the Virginia race is being framed by many observers as a test of Obama's popularity. 

In the expectations game, the Republicans are now expected to win.  If they lose, the mainstream media will make that the story.  So, no overconfidence please. 

August 7, 2009