Voters in Virginia and New Jersey have given Barack Obama a sharp rebuke by electing Republican governors. Skip related content
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Virginia and New Jersey give Barack Obama warning
Republican Bob McDonnell scored an easy victory over Democrat Creigh Deeds in Virginia. In New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie had a tougher time with incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine but prevailed.
The President's Democrat party salvaged a victory over a conservative candidate in a congressional district in upstate New York.
The victories buoyed Republican hopes that they have emerged from the political wilderness after losing control of the US Congress in 2006 and the White House in 2008.
They raised questions for Democrats as they try to protect strong majorities in the US House of Representatives and the Senate amid concerns about the economy and their inability so far to reduce unemployment, now edging towards 10 per cent.
The Virginia and New Jersey losses suggested Democrats have a challenge in trying to attract voters to the polls without Mr Obama's name on the ticket.
A year ago, Mr Obama became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win Virginia since 1964. He campaigned twice for Deeds but Democrats were unable to muster another large turnout.
The Republicans have not won a statewide race in New Jersey since 1997. Mr Obama won the state by 16 percentage points and went there to campaign three times for Corzine.
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