Voters elect governors in NJ, Virginia

The Republican and Democrat voters in the US states of New Jersey and Virginia have gone to polls to choose their new state governors.

The results will be closely watched by the Republicans and Democrats who see it as a test of their parties' standing one year after Barack Obama was elected president.

"The results will be taken by some as a referendum on President Obama's first nine months in office," the BBC said.

Two Congressional seats are also up for grabs in New York and California. New York is among the cities choosing a mayor.

The election outcome could give some clues as to the national mood a year after Obama was elected president and a year before 2010 congressional elections that will represent the first clear referendum since Obama term began.

In Virginia, Democratic party candidate Creigh Deeds is battling a former attorney general, Republican Bob McDonnell, for the post of governor.

Opinion polls suggest incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine and his Republican rival Chris Christie are running neck and neck in New Jersey.

New Jersey polls close at 8 p.m. EST (0100 GMT Wednesday) but it could be some hours before the outcome is clear. In Virginia, voting ends at 7 p.m. EST (0000 GMT) and the winner could be known a few hours later.

Voters in Virginia surprised some analysts last year when they chose Obama in the presidential election, making him the first Democratic candidate to carry the state since 1964.