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| Republicans win key US elections | Republicans win key US elections |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Republicans have scored victories in two key US elections for governor, a year after Barack Obama was voted in as president. | Republicans have scored victories in two key US elections for governor, a year after Barack Obama was voted in as president. |
| In Virginia, Republican candidate Bob McDonnell won by a comfortable margin, while another, Chris Christie, ousted the Democrat governor in New Jersey. | In Virginia, Republican candidate Bob McDonnell won by a comfortable margin, while another, Chris Christie, ousted the Democrat governor in New Jersey. |
| In New York, independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg narrowly won a third term over Democrat challenger Bill Thompson. | In New York, independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg narrowly won a third term over Democrat challenger Bill Thompson. |
| Congressional seats are also up for grabs in New York and California. | Congressional seats are also up for grabs in New York and California. |
| While local issues have been paramount in these races, analysts say a win could boost party morale ahead of 2010 mid-term ballots. | While local issues have been paramount in these races, analysts say a win could boost party morale ahead of 2010 mid-term ballots. |
| In New Jersey, the incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine had fought a bitter campaign against his Republican rival Chris Christie, not only attacking him over his ties to former President George W Bush and his views on abortion and healthcare, but also poking fun at his weight. | In New Jersey, the incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine had fought a bitter campaign against his Republican rival Chris Christie, not only attacking him over his ties to former President George W Bush and his views on abortion and healthcare, but also poking fun at his weight. |
| ANALYSIS Richard Lister, BBC News, Washington | ANALYSIS Richard Lister, BBC News, Washington |
| Republicans are portraying these victories as an indictment of President Obama's first 10 months in office. | Republicans are portraying these victories as an indictment of President Obama's first 10 months in office. |
| The party's national chairman, Michael Steele, said the elections sent a clear signal that voters have had enough of what he called the "president's liberal agenda". | The party's national chairman, Michael Steele, said the elections sent a clear signal that voters have had enough of what he called the "president's liberal agenda". |
| Exit polls suggests most voters were more focussed on local issues than President Obama, but the polling also suggest overwhelming concern about the state of the American economy, a situation which traditionally causes problems for the party in power. | Exit polls suggests most voters were more focussed on local issues than President Obama, but the polling also suggest overwhelming concern about the state of the American economy, a situation which traditionally causes problems for the party in power. |
| Turnout was far lower than in the presidential election, despite Mr Obama's campaign appearances in both states, and in another shift from a year ago, independent voters appear to have swung behind the Republican candidates this time. | Turnout was far lower than in the presidential election, despite Mr Obama's campaign appearances in both states, and in another shift from a year ago, independent voters appear to have swung behind the Republican candidates this time. |
| With most of the votes counted, Mr Christie was ahead with about 50% of the vote when Mr Corzine conceded defeat. He pledged to work with Mr Christie to ensure a smooth transition. | With most of the votes counted, Mr Christie was ahead with about 50% of the vote when Mr Corzine conceded defeat. He pledged to work with Mr Christie to ensure a smooth transition. |
| Correspondents say a defeat in New Jersey is a sting for the Democrats, especially after Mr Obama threw his weight behind Governor Corzine, repeatedly travelling to New Jersey to back the former Goldman Sachs chief executive on the campaign trail. | Correspondents say a defeat in New Jersey is a sting for the Democrats, especially after Mr Obama threw his weight behind Governor Corzine, repeatedly travelling to New Jersey to back the former Goldman Sachs chief executive on the campaign trail. |
| However, President Obama's former campaign manager, David Plouffe, warned against reading too much into Tuesday's contests. | However, President Obama's former campaign manager, David Plouffe, warned against reading too much into Tuesday's contests. |
| "The results of these elections tend to be over-read," he told the NBC network's Today programme. "These are local races. There's 18,000 lifetimes between now and next November." | "The results of these elections tend to be over-read," he told the NBC network's Today programme. "These are local races. There's 18,000 lifetimes between now and next November." |
| In Virginia, Democratic party candidate Creigh Deeds phoned Mr McDonnell, a former attorney general, to congratulate him. With about 80% of votes counted, the Republican was leading with about 60%. | In Virginia, Democratic party candidate Creigh Deeds phoned Mr McDonnell, a former attorney general, to congratulate him. With about 80% of votes counted, the Republican was leading with about 60%. |
| Only last year President Obama became the first Democratic candidate to carry the state since 1964, although its last two governors have been democrats. | Only last year President Obama became the first Democratic candidate to carry the state since 1964, although its last two governors have been democrats. |
| But independent voters who supported the president in the 2008 election switched their support to the Republican party candidate in this race. | But independent voters who supported the president in the 2008 election switched their support to the Republican party candidate in this race. |
| But it is not just the Democratic Party whose performance is under scrutiny. | But it is not just the Democratic Party whose performance is under scrutiny. |
| The race to fill a vacant Congressional seat in New York's 23rd district has highlighted a split within the Republican Party, with some choosing to back the tiny Conservative Party's Doug Hoffman rather than endorse Dierdre Scozzafava, the moderate candidate chosen by the Republicans. | The race to fill a vacant Congressional seat in New York's 23rd district has highlighted a split within the Republican Party, with some choosing to back the tiny Conservative Party's Doug Hoffman rather than endorse Dierdre Scozzafava, the moderate candidate chosen by the Republicans. |
| Obama is in that tricky post-euphoria, pre-delivery phase - it's even trickier if people feel deliverance never comes BBC North America editor Mark Mardell Read Mark's thoughts in full | Obama is in that tricky post-euphoria, pre-delivery phase - it's even trickier if people feel deliverance never comes BBC North America editor Mark Mardell Read Mark's thoughts in full |
| The row led Ms Scozzafava - who supports abortion rights and gay marriage - to drop out of the race on Saturday and throw her weight behind the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens. | The row led Ms Scozzafava - who supports abortion rights and gay marriage - to drop out of the race on Saturday and throw her weight behind the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens. |
| Also in New York, independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg narrowly secured a third term. With 96% of votes in, Mr Bloomberg was ahead of Democratic challenger Bill Thompson by 50.5% to 46.2%. | Also in New York, independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg narrowly secured a third term. With 96% of votes in, Mr Bloomberg was ahead of Democratic challenger Bill Thompson by 50.5% to 46.2%. |
| Analysts estimate the billionaire businessman could have spent more than $100m (£61m) of his personal fortune on his re-election campaign. | Analysts estimate the billionaire businessman could have spent more than $100m (£61m) of his personal fortune on his re-election campaign. |
| Mayoral elections are also being held in Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Detroit and Pittsburgh. | Mayoral elections are also being held in Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Detroit and Pittsburgh. |
| Meanwhile in Maine, a referendum was held on whether to accept or reject a same-sex marriage law passed by state lawmakers earlier this year. | Meanwhile in Maine, a referendum was held on whether to accept or reject a same-sex marriage law passed by state lawmakers earlier this year. |
| If voters pass the measure, Maine will be the first US state to approve gay marriage at the ballot box. | If voters pass the measure, Maine will be the first US state to approve gay marriage at the ballot box. |
| Whatever the results of Tuesday's elections, they will be pored over by the party faithful for clues as to how their candidates may fare in the crucial 2010 mid-term elections, correspondents say. | Whatever the results of Tuesday's elections, they will be pored over by the party faithful for clues as to how their candidates may fare in the crucial 2010 mid-term elections, correspondents say. |
| Next year, the entire House of Representatives, about a third of the Senate and two-thirds of governors' posts will be up for grabs. | Next year, the entire House of Representatives, about a third of the Senate and two-thirds of governors' posts will be up for grabs. |
| Did you vote in any of the elections on Tuesday? What do you think of the election results? How important are they for Republicans and Democrats? Send us your comments using the form below. | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |