RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Democrat Timothy Kaine was declared the winner of the Virginia governor's race by several media outlets Tuesday evening.
The gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey are being watched as an indication of the popularity of U.S. President George W. Bush's policies. Bush won Virginia easily in 2004.
The Washington Post said leading up to the gubernatorial election, Kaine, Virginia's lieutenant governor, still held a narrow lead in several polls over Republican Jerry Kilgore, who is the state's former attorney general.
Late Tuesday, the Post said online that Kaine "defeated Republican Jerry W. Kilgore ... riding the popularity of outgoing Gov. Mark R. Warner (also a Democrat) and dissatisfaction with the Bush administration in a state that typically votes Republican in national elections."
Kaine, Virginia's lieutenant governor, held a lead of 51 percent to 46 percent over Kilgore, the former state attorney general, with 90 percent of precincts unofficially reporting, the Post said.
Republicans held slim leads in the races for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
