White House downplays Election Day

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Heated referendums over same-sex partnership laws in Maine and Washington powered voter turnouts today in an off-year election that included closely watched races in New Jersey, Virginia and New York.

Pundits were debating what the results could mean for President Obama, who campaigned for Democrats in governors’ races in New Jersey and Virginia and in an upstate New York congressional race.

But the White House sought to put some distance between the president and the outcome.

“We don’t look at either of the gubernatorial races or the congressional race as something that portends a lot for our legislative efforts going forward or our political prospects in 2010,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said at his daily briefing.

In New Jersey, where Gov. Jon Corzine was in a close race with Republican Chris Christie and independent Chris Daggett, the early turnout was described as light by state officials, who cautioned that much of the vote usually came later in the day. Democrats outnumber Republicans in registration, about 1.7 million to 1 million, but there are 2.3 million voters unaffiliated with a party.

In Virginia, Democratic gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds was trailing Republican Bob McDonnell in polls by double digits. In the closely watched 23rd Congressional District in upstate New York, Democrat Bill Owens was in a close race against conservative Doug Hoffman after the GOP candidate dropped out over the weekend and threw her support to the Democrat. No Democrat has won a race in the district near the Canadian border since the 19th century.

Also being closely watched were referendums dealing with same-sex laws, which generally attract high voter turnouts.

In Maine, where voters were deciding whether to repeal a gay-marriage bill, the turnout was at the higher end of expectations, about 50% to 55%, Secretary of State Matt Dunlap said in a telephone interview. The turnout is usually 15% to 25% when a less controversial referendum is on the ballot.

Polls show a dead heat on the measure, which would cancel the measure signed in May by Gov. John E. Baldacci, a Democrat.

In the state of Washington, residents were voting on the state’s ‘everything but marriage’ law. Referendum 71 asks voters to approve or reject the expansion of the state’s domestic partnership law, giving additional rights now enjoyed only by married couples.

Mayoral races in New York, Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Detroit and Pittsburgh are also on the ballot.

-- Michael Muskal

Follow on Twitter @LATimesmuskal