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Two US states vote for governors Mixed results in US local polls
(about 3 hours later)
Voters in the two US states have been voting to pick new governors and five big cities are electing mayors. The governor of the US state of Mississippi has been reelected, apparently as a result of his handling of the Hurricane Katrina crisis.
Republican Governor Haley Barbour, who is seen as having handled the Hurricane Katrina crisis well, was tipped to beat Democrat John Eaves in Mississippi. Haley Barbour, a Republican, beat Democrat John Eaves in a campaign which stressed job growth and rebuilding.
Kentucky's Governor Ernie Fletcher has trailed his Democratic rival in polls. Meanwhile Kentucky's scandal-hit governor Ernie Fletcher lost badly to Democratic rival Steve Beshear.
Five major cities are also voting for mayors, ahead of the country's 2008 presidential elections.
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 shadowKatrina'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.
Charges against Mr Fletcher were dropped
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 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 were hit 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.