Republicans rejoice over election victory

US President Barack Obama's Republican rivals have rejoiced after winning two key election races, painting them as a big step in the party's uphill journey.

On Wednesday, the Republicans won the governorships of Virginia and New Jersey, but a party rift cost them a congressional seat from New York that they had held for a century.

"The Republican renaissance has begun," said Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, cheering the political shot in the arm after routs in 2006 and 2008 cost the party control of the Congress and the White House.

The exit polls gave no sure sign that voters were sending a message about Obama, but highlighted fears and anger about the sour US economy 10 months into his term.

However, a recent ABC television poll found Obama's job approval had slipped but that just 19 percent of the US public trusts Republicans in Congress to make the right decisions for the country's future.

On the other hand, a recent CNN television poll found that 50 percent of respondents said they favored their local Democratic candidate against 46 percent for the Republican candidate, in the 2010 elections.