Flashback to 2001
Apparently expecting losses in the key races tonight, the DNC sends around some "interesting quotes from yesteryear."
NRCC Talking Points: "The 2001 off-year elections have no bearing on next year's mid-term elections. These races revolved around local issues and local candidates. There were no discernable national trends." [Hotline, 11/7/01]
RNC Communications Director Trent Duffy: "It's laughable to suggest that this has any national implications." [Chicago Tribune, 11/7/01]
"'Given how sour the economy is and given how sour some of the leading economic indicators have gone, and how sour many Americans feel about their own personal well-being and the depletion of their personal portfolios, they haven't shot the messenger yet,' said Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway. 'I think it speaks to the president's strengths that his approval ratings are still up there.'" [Gannett, 8/31/01]
CNN's Cynthia Crowley said, "I think what you're going to see tomorrow is what you might expect, which is, Democrats -- who have some good wins here, let's not take it away from them -- in New Jersey and Virginia are going to say, hey, look, this is prelude to next year. But I can tell you, on both sides of the aisle, they're saying anybody that tries to predict what this means for next year is nuts." [CNN NewsNight, 11/6/01]
