|
Independent voters who had flocked to Mr. Obama in Virginia and New Jersey last year shifted on Tuesday to the Republican candidates in both states, Christopher J. Christie in New Jersey and Robert F. McDonnell in Virginia, according to exit polls in both states. That is a swing that will certainly be noted by moderate Congressional Democrats facing re-election next year, who may now be more reluctant to support Mr. Obama on tough votes in Congress.
Christie, 47, became the first member of his party in a dozen years to win a statewide contest in heavily Democratic New Jersey.
State unemployment was at 9.8 percent in October and property taxes averaged $7,045 per household, the nation's highest.
Craig Royer, 46, of Woodbridge in central New Jersey, typified voters' discontent.
"I'm tired of the Democrats," Royer said. "I voted for Chris Christie because he's not Jon Corzine."
|
|