Christie extends lead. Portman exhales.

The 2009 gubernatorial elections not only Obama's first report card, they are also a case-study in the success rate of campaign tactics.

As we mentioned back in August, in New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine was dropping a load of cash to equivocate his opponent, Chris Christie, as a Bush crony. By attaching the two at the hip, Corzine felt he could take advantage of the residual Bush negativity among independents. So, did it work?

Well, if you look at the most recent numbers released by 2008's most accurate pollster, Quinnipiac, the answer is no.

The Quinnipiac poll shows Christie leading Corzine by 10 points, 47 to 37 percent – with independent Chris Daggett tallying nine percent. Christie’s lead has grown since the last Quinnipiac survey earlier this month, when he only held a six-point lead.

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[According to the Quinnipiac pollster,] "Just about everyone has seen Gov. Jon Corzine's TV ads knocking Christopher Christie's ties to the Bush team, but most question whether it's a legitimate issue.

It seems even in New Jersey, where Obama won by 15% just 10 months ago, Bush-based attacks are failing to cause any damage whatsoever to their intended target.

And to think, Ohio Democrats are pinning their hopes that in an election that doesn't take place for another 14 months that these exact same type of Bush-based attacks will work on Portman.

In your dreams, fellas.