Despite what the White House and Congressional Democrats will say tomorrow, tonight’s two loses for Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia are a blow to the Obamamania that Democrats have clutched onto tighter than a 5-year-old grips his teaddy-bear. The whole-hearted embracing of Obama by Jon Corzine and Creigh Deeds, including non-stop appearances, TV, radio and print ads featuring the “Hope and Change” mantra of 2008, were not enough to win the day.

The one and only Dan McLaughlin put it thusly:

Obama tried to help Deeds and Corzine, and was unable to do so. He can help nobody but himself. And that fact alone is hugely significant.

Obama had no coattails tonight. None.

The excitement of last year, the euphoria of Obama’s election that drove many young people and independents to passionately vote for Democrats did not continue as Americans had their first chance to vote on the policies and practices of the philosophy they elected last November. Today, Americans rejected Obama the politician even if they still like Obama the man, as indicated in some exit polls.

This may be a blow for 2010, that’s yet to be seen, but one effect that is sure to reverberate through Washington tomorrow is Obama’s loss of political capital. “Blue Dogs” in the Democratic party, especially those from swing districts across the country, saw tonight that Obama’s endorsement cannot help them win and may even help them lose. That will be a blow to liberal efforts in Congress in the health care and cap-and-trade debates, as many of the Democrat fence sitters may start to side with the GOP, running away from drastic Obama-backed policies that could come back to haunt them in next year’s elections.