Republican Chris Christie, left, and his running mate, Kim Guadagno, greet their supporters after unseating incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine...

(AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

Republican Chris Christie, left, and his running mate, Kim Guadagno, greet their supporters after unseating incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine to win the New Jersey governor's race, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in Parsippany, New Jersey.

WASHINGTON— What we learned from the off-year elections: The president's influence is limited, independents rule, incumbents beware, issues trump ideology and, once more, "It's the economy, stupid."

Also: Republicans can win _ even if they lack a leader and their base is cracked. And this certainly isn't the Democratic-friendly political environment of 2006 and 2008 when the party captured control of Congress and the White House.

The first Election Day of Barack Obama's presidency was a big night for Republicans, who recaptured governorships in the swing state of Virginia and the Democratic stronghold of New Jersey. Democrats won two races for vacant congressional seats, including one in upstate New York that had been long held by Republicans and that exposed a GOP divide.

So, what did we learn about politics, people and their priorities from the handful of races on Tuesday? And how will those lessons shape the maneuvering of Republicans and Democrats ahead of 2010 midterms, when Obama's prestige will be put to the test across the country?

The results don't seem to bode well for Obama and his party heading into a high-stakes year as they look to advance an expensive domestic agenda while protecting the Democrats' grip on House, Senate and gubernatorial seats nationwide. They'll try to win over people in a country clouded by a job-killing recession, divided over war and, as Tuesday's results showed, fed up with the powers that be _ no matter the political party.

Among the lessons learned:

_OBAMA'S POLITICAL POWER IS LIMITED

"Yes, we can!" has turned into "Yes, we can _ if we feel like it!"

The broad coalition _ minorities, young people, first-time voters, Republican crossovers and independents _ that fueled Obama's victory was a 2008 phenomenon; it can't be counted on if the man himself is not on the ballot. Even though Obama personally implored his supporters to turn out in droves, voters rejected incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in New Jersey and Democratic candidate R. Creigh Deeds in Virginia.

That could be a problem for Democratic lawmakers in swing states and conservative-to-moderate districts next fall because Obama won't be on the ballot to drive up turnout. Candidates carried into office in the Obama wave will be vulnerable in 2010 _ with no lifeguard to help. And that could influence how those lawmakers vote in Congress in the meantime _ perhaps threatening the president's priorities.