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Biden rejects blame for shock Virginia election defeat | Biden rejects blame for shock Virginia election defeat |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Joe Biden has rejected suggestions that his Democratic party's shock loss in the Virginia governor's race was a verdict on his presidency. | Joe Biden has rejected suggestions that his Democratic party's shock loss in the Virginia governor's race was a verdict on his presidency. |
Mr Biden argued that the miring of his legislative agenda in a Capitol Hill logjam did not sway the outcome. | Mr Biden argued that the miring of his legislative agenda in a Capitol Hill logjam did not sway the outcome. |
He cited "Trump voters", schools, jobs and petrol prices as other reasons for the surprise defeat of Terry McAuliffe. | He cited "Trump voters", schools, jobs and petrol prices as other reasons for the surprise defeat of Terry McAuliffe. |
Republican Glenn Youngkin, a political newcomer, came from behind to win the Virginia governor's race on Tuesday. | Republican Glenn Youngkin, a political newcomer, came from behind to win the Virginia governor's race on Tuesday. |
Meanwhile, the New Jersey governor's race went down to a nail-biting dead heat between the Democratic incumbent, Phil Murphy, and a little-known Republican challenger, Jack Ciattarelli. | Meanwhile, the New Jersey governor's race went down to a nail-biting dead heat between the Democratic incumbent, Phil Murphy, and a little-known Republican challenger, Jack Ciattarelli. |
US media have projected Mr Murphy will win that race, though his opponent has not yet conceded. | |
At the White House on Wednesday, Mr Biden was asked whether he accepted any blame for Tuesday's political earthquake in Virginia. | At the White House on Wednesday, Mr Biden was asked whether he accepted any blame for Tuesday's political earthquake in Virginia. |
He said voters are "upset and uncertain about a lot of things", including the pandemic, education, the economy and the price of petrol. | He said voters are "upset and uncertain about a lot of things", including the pandemic, education, the economy and the price of petrol. |
Mr Biden conceded Democrats should have passed his signature $1.75tn (£1.3tn) package of social and climate programmes and a $1tn infrastructure bill before Tuesday's vote. | Mr Biden conceded Democrats should have passed his signature $1.75tn (£1.3tn) package of social and climate programmes and a $1tn infrastructure bill before Tuesday's vote. |
He added: "But I'm not sure I would be able to have changed the number of very conservative folks who turned out in the red districts who were Trump voters." | He added: "But I'm not sure I would be able to have changed the number of very conservative folks who turned out in the red districts who were Trump voters." |
Mr Biden took several questions from reporters after making comments to promote coronavirus vaccines as American children aged 5 to 11 became eligible for the shots. | Mr Biden took several questions from reporters after making comments to promote coronavirus vaccines as American children aged 5 to 11 became eligible for the shots. |
The president encouraged parents to get their young jabbed to "help us keep our schools open". | The president encouraged parents to get their young jabbed to "help us keep our schools open". |
Rising inflation, a slow economic recovery, a historic immigration crisis at the southern US border, and a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan have also hit Mr Biden's approval rating. | |
He is one of the most unpopular presidents ever at this point during a first term, according to opinion polls. | He is one of the most unpopular presidents ever at this point during a first term, according to opinion polls. |
Mr Biden returned from a climate conference in Scotland early on Wednesday to news of the loss in a key Democratic stronghold that the president won by 10 points just a year ago. | Mr Biden returned from a climate conference in Scotland early on Wednesday to news of the loss in a key Democratic stronghold that the president won by 10 points just a year ago. |
Mr Youngkin, a former executive with the private equity firm Carlyle Group, is the first member of his party elected to statewide office in Virginia since 2009. | Mr Youngkin, a former executive with the private equity firm Carlyle Group, is the first member of his party elected to statewide office in Virginia since 2009. |
The mild-mannered political novice narrowly defeated former Virginia Governor McAuliffe with a delicate balancing act of pulling in Trump supporters, while avoiding being tied too closely to the former president, who remains unpopular in swathes of the state. | The mild-mannered political novice narrowly defeated former Virginia Governor McAuliffe with a delicate balancing act of pulling in Trump supporters, while avoiding being tied too closely to the former president, who remains unpopular in swathes of the state. |
This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
US mothers divided on vaccines for young children | US mothers divided on vaccines for young children |
Mr Youngkin's strategy is already being hailed as a template for Republicans as they vie to wrest wafer-thin congressional majorities from Democrats in next year's mid-term elections. | Mr Youngkin's strategy is already being hailed as a template for Republicans as they vie to wrest wafer-thin congressional majorities from Democrats in next year's mid-term elections. |
Two other Republicans won the other top offices in Virginia. | Two other Republicans won the other top offices in Virginia. |
Former US Marine Winsome Sears will be the first black female lieutenant governor of the state, which was the former seat of the pro-slavery Confederacy during the American Civil War. | Former US Marine Winsome Sears will be the first black female lieutenant governor of the state, which was the former seat of the pro-slavery Confederacy during the American Civil War. |
Cuban-American Jason Miyares becomes the first Latino attorney general of Virginia. | Cuban-American Jason Miyares becomes the first Latino attorney general of Virginia. |
Virginia exit polls showed many voters were preoccupied with education, including how schools handle gender, race and mask mandates - key campaign issues for Mr Youngkin. | Virginia exit polls showed many voters were preoccupied with education, including how schools handle gender, race and mask mandates - key campaign issues for Mr Youngkin. |
New Jersey's governor had been expected to cruise to re-election in a state where registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by more than a million. | New Jersey's governor had been expected to cruise to re-election in a state where registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by more than a million. |
But Mr Murphy, a wealthy former Goldman Sachs executive, just squeaked to victory by a fraction of a percentage point against a Republican underdog with low name recognition. | But Mr Murphy, a wealthy former Goldman Sachs executive, just squeaked to victory by a fraction of a percentage point against a Republican underdog with low name recognition. |
A Biden ally, Mr Murphy has presided over a leftward shift in the state, including higher taxes on millionaires, gun control and a higher minimum wage. | A Biden ally, Mr Murphy has presided over a leftward shift in the state, including higher taxes on millionaires, gun control and a higher minimum wage. |
The political headwinds for Democrats in New Jersey were also underscored as a Republican truck driver, Edward Durr, who reportedly spent just $153 on his campaign, ousted the powerful president of the state senate. | The political headwinds for Democrats in New Jersey were also underscored as a Republican truck driver, Edward Durr, who reportedly spent just $153 on his campaign, ousted the powerful president of the state senate. |