(Thumbnail image: The New York Times)

“As it turns out, the Republican Party is not dead.  McDonnel: 'Tonight you have given me the title of Gov. of Virginia.  But I pledge to you, for the next four years, action and results.' With a big assist from independent voters, Republicans swept Virginia’s three statewide races and knocked out an incumbent governor in New Jersey.”  (CNN)

Earlier this week at Newsy.com, we brought you media perspectives on whether Tuesday’s off-year elections were a referendum on President Barack Obama. In this report, we explore what gubernatorial victories in New Jersey and Virginia mean for the Republican Party.

We bring you views from CBS, NBC, ABC, CNBC and The Atlantic.    

Charles Mahtesian of Politico told CBS that Tuesday night should send chills down the spines of Democrats running in next year’s midterm elections.   

“I think that is a very frightening omen for Democratic candidates across the country in 2010.”

NBC’s Chuck Todd told MSNBC Republicans should feel good about their ability to connect with independent voters.  

“Between New Jersey and Virginia, the thing Republicans ought to feel best about is independents actually picked the Republicans again.  It has been about four years since we’ve had an election where independents in the middle, whether it’s a national race, a statewide race, a Democratic state or a swing state.  They actually went overwhelming to the Republican candidates.”

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos says Election Day wasn’t all bad for Democrats, however.  The party captured the closely-watched congressional race in New York's 23rd District, where Sarah Palin had been stumping for the conservative party candidate.

“The bottom line is when there is a civil war in the Republican Party, a Democrat can squeak through.  In a district that has not gone to the Democrats since about the Civil War, so this a big surprise for the Democrats here.  I think it’s a big loss for Sarah Palin, a big win for the Democrats who poured it on in those final days.”

Democratic strategist Julie Roginksy told CNBC that Republicans took advantage of fed-up voters the same way Democrats did a year ago.

“This was an anti-incumbent election, this was a change election, I think people wanted change last year, there still hoping for change, and this should incentivize Obama to actually move it along a little faster.”

The Atlantic notes that while the Republicans should feel good about Tuesday’s elections, the results follow a long pattern.

“Since 1985, Virginia and New Jersey have always voted against the party in power in Washington in their sequential off-year elections.”

So what do you think? Did Tuesday’s victories give the GOP momentum toward next year’s midterm elections?