While both the exit polls and the realities of gubenatorial races make this Politico news analysis by editor John Harris overwrought -- you can tell by the excess of adjectives ("umistakable," "emphatically," "humiliating," "severe") that they're reaching -- yesterday's elections should be taken as a warning shot across Democrats' bows. More insightful than his boss, Ben Smith's article on the surprisingly close New York mayoral race -- where Democrats, with more resources, might have unseated Republican ubermoderate Michael Bloomberg -- reveals that White House officials are feeling a little stung:“Maybe one of those Corzine trips could have been better spent in New York. Who knows?" remarked New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, who weighed his own run for mayor, referring to the White House’s devout attention to the New Jersey contest.“Maybe Anthony Weiner should have manned-up and run against Michael Bloomberg,” shot back a White House official, who attributed the night’s results across the board to anti-incumbent fervor.That strikes me as one of the sharpest intra-party rebukes to ever come out of this mild-mannered White House (am I forgetting something?). This official is feeling a little sensitive -- and rightfully so. Democrats had best hope they can turn their pique around at their opponents on the right and avoid further sniping among their own team. Here's my full take on what the election results mean for both parties.
-- Tim Fernholz
