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Two US states vote for governors | Two US states vote for governors |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Voters in the two US states have been voting to pick new governors and five big cities are electing mayors. | |
Republican Governor Haley Barbour, who is seen as having handled the Hurricane Katrina crisis well, was tipped to beat Democrat John Eaves in Mississippi. | Republican Governor Haley Barbour, who is seen as having handled the Hurricane Katrina crisis well, was tipped to beat Democrat John Eaves in Mississippi. |
Kentucky's Governor Ernie Fletcher has trailed his Democratic rival in polls. | Kentucky's Governor Ernie Fletcher has trailed his Democratic rival in polls. |
The cities of Baltimore, Houston, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are choosing mayors. Some states are also voting on ballot initiatives. | The cities of Baltimore, Houston, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are choosing mayors. Some states are also voting on ballot initiatives. |
One of those is a referendum in New Jersey on whether the state should borrow $450m over 10 years to pay for stem cell research. | One of those is a referendum in New Jersey on whether the state should borrow $450m over 10 years to pay for stem cell research. |
Another, in Utah, asks voters whether the state should provide assistance - in the form of school vouchers - to students going to private schools. | Another, in Utah, asks voters whether the state should provide assistance - in the form of school vouchers - to students going to private schools. |
Katrina's shadow | Katrina's shadow |
The gubernatorial and mayoral elections come in a year when much of the nation's attention is focused on the 2008 presidential race. | The gubernatorial and mayoral elections come in a year when much of the nation's attention is focused on the 2008 presidential race. |
Brian Brox, a political science professor at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, told the Associated Press news agency that voters were chiefly concerned with local issues. | Brian Brox, a political science professor at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, told the Associated Press news agency that voters were chiefly concerned with local issues. |
But, he warned, it was likely that political analysts would seek to draw wider conclusions from the results. | But, he warned, it was likely that political analysts would seek to draw wider conclusions from the results. |
"They'll either say it was a vote for change if Democrats win, or it will be the Republicans saying 'Not so fast'," he told AP. | "They'll either say it was a vote for change if Democrats win, or it will be the Republicans saying 'Not so fast'," he told AP. |
The handling of the Hurricane Katrina crisis and the reconstruction efforts since in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast continue to have an impact on the region's politics. | The handling of the Hurricane Katrina crisis and the reconstruction efforts since in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast continue to have an impact on the region's politics. |
Mr Barbour's Mississippi re-election campaign has focused on his successful management of recovery efforts and his attempts to rebuild and bring new jobs to the Gulf Coast area. | Mr Barbour's Mississippi re-election campaign has focused on his successful management of recovery efforts and his attempts to rebuild and bring new jobs to the Gulf Coast area. |
Louisiana's Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco chose not to stand for re-election in last month's state ballot, following wide criticism of her leadership over Katrina. | Louisiana's Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco chose not to stand for re-election in last month's state ballot, following wide criticism of her leadership over Katrina. |
The seat went to Republican Bobby Jindal, who became the first Indian-American to head a state. | The seat went to Republican Bobby Jindal, who became the first Indian-American to head a state. |
In Kentucky, Mr Fletcher's re-election chances have been dented by accusations during his first term that he illegally awarded protected state jobs to political allies. | In Kentucky, Mr Fletcher's re-election chances have been dented by accusations during his first term that he illegally awarded protected state jobs to political allies. |
He was indicted but the charges were eventually dismissed in a deal with prosecutors. His challenger, Democrat Steve Beshear, has been leading polls ahead of the vote. | He was indicted but the charges were eventually dismissed in a deal with prosecutors. His challenger, Democrat Steve Beshear, has been leading polls ahead of the vote. |