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Election results 2011: Voters signal that GOP overreached

Election results 2011 point to cautious voters, not moving sharply left or right. Voters did deal big setbacks to some Republican causes, but it's hard to read that as a boost to Obama's reelection bid.

In an election that may offer an early glimpse of the political climateÌýfor next year's presidential contest, American voters showed they areÌýfrustrated but cautious – not moving sharply left or right.

Voters who cast their ballots Tuesday dished up big servings of humbleÌýpie to both major political parties.

Mississippi voters, in a surprise reversal of expectations, defeatedÌýconservatives' efforts to win America's first "personhood" lawÌýrelating to human embryos. The ballot initiative would have declaredÌýthat life begins at the moment of fertilization – a challenge toÌýabortion rights that for a time looked set to pass in the Bible BeltÌýstate.

And in Ohio, a key swing state for the coming presidential race, votersÌýoverturned a Republican-backed law curbing the bargaining power ofÌýpublic-sector labor unions.

It was a major win for liberals, indicating that voters have limitsÌýwhen it comes to embracing Republican prescriptions for curbs on unionÌýpower and related cuts in government spending as a solution for budgetÌýdeficits. The outcome ripples beyond Ohio, energizing the spirits ofÌýlabor unions and their supporters nationwide.

If those outcomes signal that many voters believe Republicans overreached coming out of their victorious 2010 midterm elections, it's hard to read Tuesday's overall results as giving any majorÌýboost to President Obama's bid for reelection. He will be battling high disapproval ratings over his ownÌýperformance and public frustration over the weak economy.ÌýTraditionally, high unemployment rates pose a big obstacle toÌýretaining the White House.

"Based on the likely state of the economy in 2012, President ObamaÌýfaces a steep uphill task to secure reelection," said a recentÌýanalysis by economists at the forecasting firm IHS Global Insight,Ìýbased in Lexington, Mass. "A Republican opponent lacking broad appealÌýcould tilt the balance back in favor of the president. But it doesÌýappear that this is an election that is the Republicans' to lose."

In fact, even as Ohio voters handed Democrats a win on unionÌýbargaining power, those same voters passed a ballot initiative toÌýprohibit people from being required to buy health insurance as part ofÌýthe national health-care overhaul. The vote was mostly symbolic, butÌýRepublicans hope to use it in a legal challenge to Obama's health-care reform law.

The Republican Party also picked up at least one seat in the VirginiaÌýstate Senate, a litmus test of voters' mood in another vital swingÌýstate that Mr. Obama won in 2008. A second Virginia Senate seat hung inÌýthe vote-counting balance early Wednesday, which could potentiallyÌýgive Republicans effective control of the legislature, as well as theÌýgovernorship.

Recent nationwide opinion polls reveal a frustrated electorate,Ìýwith a large majority seeing the nation going down the "wrong track."ÌýYet that frustration is fueled partly by a desire among independentÌývoters for more moderation in policies – such as compromises by bothÌýparties on core issues such as taxes and spending.

The votes on Tuesday reflected a certain caution about radical change.ÌýMany Ohioans sympathized with core elements of the Republican lawÌýrestricting public employee unions, yet overturned it because of concerns that it went too far.

The Ohio law called on public employees to pay more for their health care,Ìýand to have their pay and job security tied more to performanceÌýrather than seniority. But it also would have stripped unions' rights toÌýstrike and the ability of unions to collect dues from public employeesÌýwho benefit financially from collective bargaining but do not join theÌýunion.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) said the vote would require him "to take aÌýdeep breath" and "spend some time reflecting on what happened here."

In Arizona, state Sen. Russell Pearce, architect of the toughÌýimmigration law that put the state at the forefront of national debateÌýon the issue, was ousted after a recall attempt led by a fellowÌýRepublican.

In the two states where a governorship was up for grabs, Kentucky andÌýMississippi, voters stuck with the incumbent party, and a similarÌýpattern held in mayoral races from Phoenix to Indianapolis.

In Kentucky, Gov. Steve Beshear (D) was easily reelected, whileÌýMississippi voters picked Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant to succeedÌýHaley Barbour (R), who could not run again because of term limits. Gov.-elect Bryant beat Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny Dupree, the first blackÌýmajor-party nominee for governor in Mississippi.

Voters' rejection of the Mississippi "personhood" initiative was aÌýsetback to abortion foes nationwide, who hope to see such measuresÌýpassed in other states.

Concerns on the left – that the measure would criminalize abortionÌýand so-called "morning after" contraception pills – were joined by doubtsÌýthat arose among social conservatives. Governor Barbour voiced some ofÌýthose worries as Election Day neared, saying the measure could beÌýambiguous or have unintended consequences.

American voters made choices on a number of other matters Tuesday:

•In Maine, voters repealed a new state law that required voters toÌýregister at least two days before an election. The decision willÌýrestore Election Day voter registration, a tradition of nearly four decades' standingÌýin Maine. Voters in the state also rejected a proposal toÌýallow casinos in certain communities.

•Mississippi voters approved a proposed constitutionalÌýamendment to require that voters present government-issuedÌýidentification at the polls – a move that critics see as a effort toÌýdiminish minority voting. ThirtyÌýstates require all voters to show ID at the polls –Ìýmany of them in the Deep South, says the National Conference of StateÌýLegislatures.ÌýFourteen of the 30 require photo ID.
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•Atlanta approved Sunday alcohol sales, while Washington StateÌýadopted a plan to close state-run liquor stores and allow large storesÌýlike Costco to sell alcohol.

•In Minnesota, voters approved many measures to renew funding ofÌýindividual school districts, but often balked at providing newÌýresources for public education.

Some electoral decisions were still wending their way through theÌýtallying process as of Wednesday morning.

In San Francisco, interim Mayor Ed Lee held a lead among 15Ìýcandidates, but because he didn't garner a majority, the city'sÌý"instant runoff" system has kicked in. The outcome depends on howÌýmany people who voted for a different candidate as their firstÌýchoice tapped Mr. Lee as their second or third choices.

He would become the city's first elected Asian-American mayor. Lee,Ìýwho has led the city since Gavin Newsom became California's lieutenantÌýgovernor in January, was ahead with nearly 31 percent of the vote,Ìýwhile the closest rival had about 18 percent.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.