Take Me To Post Comment Form Remember the Republican Party? The party that the media and political pundits wrote off? They said the Republican Party was dead... that conservatism was dead.

In their rush to kiss Barack Obama's feet and proclaim that the United States is not a socialist country, the Democrats and members of the media forgot one thing: America is a conservative country. Americans simply want lower taxes, smaller deficits, more freedom, less spending, and less government control. Simple concepts, right? Well, last night, the message was heard around the country. In stunning election victories, Republicans picked up the governorships in both New Jersey and Virginia. The stage is certainly set for 2010 if the Republican leadership can learn from the results of Tuesday night.

First, the most stunning news of the night. Republican challenger Chris Christi ousted incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine in the New Jersey governor's race. Obama flew in for multiple events in the state. VP Joe Biden also made an appearance. When it was all said and done, Christi emerged with 48% of the vote to Corzine's 44%.

As FOXNews.com points out, in the exit polling, conservatives went strongly for Christie 82% to 15%. Republicans stood by their candidate 91% to 6%. The long cherished "independent" vote went for Christie 60% to 30%. In other words, those same people who were frustrated with the way the country was going and turned to Obama, are the ones who realized the state of New Jersey and the country in general is getting worse. They threw out Corzine and embraced a candidate who wants to build up private sector jobs (not government jobs) and who wants to lower taxes. Less government and more freedom... that is a winning message!

In Virginia, Republican Robert McDonnell soundly defeated his Democrat opponent, Creigh Deeds, 58% to 41%. Voters in Virginia went for Obama in 2008 by a narrow margin. One year later, they turned to the Republican by a landslide.

Exiting polling as noted by FOXNews.com showed that the electorate was significantly different than last year:

Young people and Democrats made up a smaller portion of today's voters than in 2008, while more Republicans and conservatives went to the polls - and it made a difference.

Last year, about one of five voters - 21 percent of the electorate - was under age 30, while today that dropped to 10 percent. And Deeds received only 44 percent of the vote among young voters, while last year Barack Obama received 60 percent of the vote. A 54-percent majority of young voters went for McDonnell.

And while party loyalty was fairly even, with both candidates capturing more than 9 of 10 of their party's vote, Republicans made up a larger segment today. Some 37 percent of voters today self-identify as Republican, up from 33 percent last year. Democrats made up 33 percent of the electorate today, down from 39 percent.

Voters who said taxes was their number one issue went for McDonnell 84% to 16%. Voters who said the economy was their number one issue went for McDonnell 57% to 42%.

Make no mistake. The story of Tuesday night was the gubernatorial wins in New Jersey (especially) and Virginia. Those two both mark a slap in the face to Obama and the Democrats who are bent on "transforming" America into a socialist nation. However, there was another race Tuesday night which caught the attention of conservatives.

In the special election for New York's 23rd congressional district, Democrat Bill Owens topped Conservative Doug Hoffman 49% to 45%. Conservatives such as myself are clearly disappointed with the result, but it is not all gloom and doom. Whenever a race gets thrown into chaos, anything can happen. Just look at what happened to Tom DeLay's district in Texas when the Republican candidate had to be "written in." The district went for the Democrat. One election later, it was back to being represented by a Republican.

The reason Owens won was because "Republican" candidate Scozzafava, who withdrew, still pulled 5.5% of the vote. Had this vote been consolidated around the one, true Republican candidate, Hoffman would have won. This is what happens when a few folks get together to choose a nominee. Have a full-blown primary, and let the voters decide. Had this occurred, Hoffman would soon be a congressman.

The loss also shows that the two major parties still lead in the organization department. Had Hoffman been the Republican nominee, he would have had the resources and organizational infrastructure of the party. Owens had the unions and ACORN backing him up. The Republican machine came in too late, and Hoffman was done.

The race does show that Republican voters have a set standard as to what they think a "Republican" candidate should represent. Scozzafava was not that candidate. In addition, the national party should still receive the same message regardless of whether Hoffman won or lost. He pulled enough votes combined with the Republican to have won. The message is that Republicans want and need conservatives as their candidates. When a solid conservative message is presented, Republicans win. Just look at New Jersey and Virginia. Great job!