Exits: Economy, Not Obama, Top Issues

The first round of exit polls come to us courtesy of my friends at CBS News. Please be sure to visit their website first!   First things first: even in a year when the composition of the electorate is dramatically different than the 2008 presidential election, President Obama's approval rating in Virginia is 51% among voters surveyed.  In New Jersey, it's 57%.  Fewer than half of voters for Bob McDonnell, the Republican gubernatorial candidate in VA, say they voted to send a message to Obama. About 38% of voters for Chris Christie, the New Jersey GOPer, tried to send a message, too. 38% of  CreighDeeds voters said their vote for the Democrat was to support Obama.

The big issues: the economy, to 46% of voters in Virginia. In New Jersey, it was the economy -- 31% , followed by property taxes (25%).  25% of voters in Virginia said health care was their top issue compared to 18% who said the same in New Jersey.