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.
