Dem Corzine ousted in N.J., GOP takes Va.

TRENTON, N.J., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie ousted New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine in Tuesday's election, a Republican victory in a typically Democratic state.

With 81 percent of the districts counted, Christie had about 49 percent of the vote to 45 percent for Corzine, leading by around 100,000 votes, The New York Times reported. Independent Chris Daggett, a former Republican environmental official, had 5 percent of the vote.

President Barack Obama made three visits to the state in an effort to help Corzine pull out a victory. Voter unhappiness with New Jersey's high taxes and economic troubles undermined the governor, political analysts concluded.

Polls showed both candidates with high negatives.

Corzine, a billionaire former chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs, entered politics in 2000, winning election to the U.S. Senate. He was elected governor in 2005 after Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

Republican Robert McDonnell, a former Virginia attorney general, easily beat state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds Tuesday in the race to become the state's 71st governor.

With nearly two-thirds of precincts reporting, McDonnell held wide leads, The Washington Post reported.

Democrats, who had won the last two gubernatorial races, suffered a GOP sweep of statewide races. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling cruised to victory and state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli won the contest for attorney general.