Republicans projected to win gubernatorial elections in Virginia, New Jersey

Republican candidates Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie were projected on Tuesday to win gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey respectively.

In a blow to President Barack Obama, Chris Christie defeated Gov. Jon Corzine in a tight race in the traditionally Democratic state of New Jersey by gaining independents' votes.

In Virginia, Bob McDonnell garnered a victory over R. Creigh Deeds.

With only part of ballots calculated, Bob McDonnell, 55, has shown a landslide victory over his Democratic rival, Creigh Deeds. If he wins, he would become the first Republican to take the Virginian governor's office in 12 years.

Republicans are also likely to grab the positions of the lieutenant governor and the attorney general in the state, according to earlier polls.

The result was considered a blow to the Democrats and President Obama, who easily won Virginia that was used to be dominated by Republicans in the 2008 presidential elections, the first time in 44 years.

McDonnell's projected victory is "a blow to President Obama and the Democratic party," sending "a clear signal that voters have had enough of the president's liberal agenda," said Michael Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Although there is still one year to go before the midterm elections when hundreds of local government officials and lawmakers will be elected, Republicans and some political analysts viewed the 2009 local elections as the first referendum on the president and Democratic Congress.

"If Democrats lose both Virginia and New Jersey, it will embolden Republicans and they will continue to oppose president's agenda," said Darrel West, a Brookings expert on governance studies. "It will also become more difficult to get things done in Congress."

Mark Rozell, a George Mason university professor on political science, also agreed that if the Democratic Party loses Virginia and New Jersey, "it will be read as the repudiation of some of Obama's policies and suggest a very difficult year for his party in 2010."

However, Candy Crowley, a CNN political commentator, said "a lot can happen between now and 2010," so "to extrapolate too much and superimpose this over what's going on to happen in 2010 is a mistake."

CNN's exit poll showed that among independent voters who played a crucial role in Obama's historic victory last year, mostly stood behind Republican candidates in Virginia and New Jersey.

The economy and employment still topped voters' mind when they cast ballots on Tuesday, according to the poll.

Source: Xinhua