To Mayor Barrett:

As you head off for your photo op with The One today, you might consider several things.

We all know the president is putting on a full court press to get you to jumnp into the race for governor. And, he or his folks, are likely, in their not so subtle Chicago way, making a variety of promises.

Of money. Of support.

Maybe even promises that The One Himself would come here to campaign for you.

As you prep for your discussions with the White House, you might want think a bit about what happened yesterday in Virginia.

And New Jersey.

Obama campaigned heavily in both states and went all in in Jersey, where Democrat John Corzine spent more money than God on his re-election campaign in a state that is about as blue as they come. Would you be able to raise and spend more than Corzine? Would The One make as many campaign appearances as he did for Democrats in Virginia and Jersey?

And in both states: the top issues were jobs, the economy, and taxes. Here's what ABC's pollsters had to say:

 Perhaps most striking were economic views: A vast 89 percent in New Jersey and 85 percent in Virginia said they were worried about the direction of the nation's economy in the next year; 56 percent and 53 percent, respectively, said they were "very" worried about it.

Voters who expressed the highest levels of economic discontent heavily favored the Republican candidates in both states – underscoring the challenge Obama and his party may face in 2010 if economic attitudes don't improve. The analogy is to 1994, when nearly six in 10 voters said the economy was in bad shape, and they favored the out-of-power Republicans by 26 points, helping the GOP to a 52-seat gain and control of Congress for the first time in 42 years.

Jobs. Taxes. The Economy.

How's that going to play in Wisconsin next year? And what what you run on? The Obama record? Your record as mayor?

In any case remember to smile and make sure to get that shot of you and the president together.