GOP eyes 3-state sweep of key contests

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By Sarah Abruzzese and S.A. Miller

Voters on Monday prepared to cast ballots in the first major elections since President Obama took office, offering a glimpse into how they think the president and his party have handled issues such as health care and the economy.

Republicans and their conservative allies were buoyed by late polls showing they could sweep the three biggest electoral prizes of 2009: the Virginia and New Jersey governors' mansions and New York's 23rd Congressional District seat.

Republican Robert F. McDonnell held a comfortable lead over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds in Virginia's gubernatorial race with polls stoking Republican hopes of securing the top three jobs in the state for the first time since 1997.

Polling showed Mr. McDonnell had made steady gains in the final weeks among those who identified themselves as Republicans and independents while substantially cutting into the Democratic advantage in Northern Virginia, which helped Mr. Obama capture the state last year and awarded the governorship to now-Sen. Mark R. Warner in 2001 and Gov. Tim Kaine in 2005.

"The streak of good elections for Democrats in Virginia ends tomorrow," said Dean Debnam, the president of Public Policy Polling, a nonpartisan Raleigh, N.C.-based firm. "Republicans are going to sweep the statewide races, and the only real suspense is by how much."

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Early to the polls

Candidates and voters hit the polls early to decide local elections, some with national implications.

The latest poll by Public Policy Polling released Monday showed Mr. McDonnell leading Mr. Deeds by 56 percent to 42 percent. Additionally, the poll found that 63 percent thought that Mr. McDonnell had made a strong argument for election, while only 34 percent thought Mr. Deeds had.

Meanwhile, the Republican candidates in the down-ticket races had comfortable leads over their Democratic opponents. In the race for lieutenant governor, Republican Bill Bolling led Democrat Jody M. Wagner 54 percent to 41 percent. And, for attorney general, Republican Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II led Democrat Stephen C. Shannon, 55 percent to 39 percent.

In New Jersey, the outcome of the neck-and-neck race between Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie hinges on how much of the vote is siphoned from the two candidates by third-party hopeful Chris Daggett. The latest survey shows Mr. Daggett could take as much as 12 percent of the vote.

It would be enough to sink Mr. Christie, an unlikely front-runner in this solidly blue state.

As in Virginia, polls show Mr. Christie's campaign is boosted by Republican voters taking a keen interest in the race as his opponent struggles to energize disinterested Democrats.