Democrats Sweep Governors' Races

The Democrats succeeded in putting a dent in the GOP this Election Day.

Democratic candidates swept both governors' races, with Sen. Jon Corzine easily winning New Jersey, and Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine taking Virginia despite President Bush's last-minute campaign rally appearance on behalf of the GOP candidate.

In Texas, voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on gay marriage, while in Maine, voters rejected a referendum to repeal gay rights legislation.

Republican Mayor Mike Bloomberg easily won his bid for a second term in heavily Democratic New York. Voters also picked mayors in Detroit, Houston, San Diego and Boston.

Kaine had 860,719 votes, or 51 percent, to Republican Jerry Kilgore's 789,273 votes, or 46.8 percent, with 88 percent of precincts reporting.

In New Jersey, Corzine trounced businessman Doug Forrester, pulling in 54 percent of the vote to the Republican's 42.8 percent, with 55 percent of precincts counted. Corzine had 605,915 votes, and Forrester had 480,477.

Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman praised the campaigns of losing GOP gubernatorial candidates Kilgore and Forrester and was buoyed by the Bloomberg victory in New York, even though the incumbent mayor had been widely expected to win.

"Bloomberg's achievement," said Mehlman, "is particularly impressive when one takes into account that there are 5 Democrats for every 1 Republican in the city. Tonight's victory is testimony to the fact that voters are more concerned with the candidate and the platform that best represents their views."

In California, several government-overhaul measures on the ballot were seen as a referendum on Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who campaigned hard for them.

Both New Jersey and Virginia saw races for governor marked by record-breaking spending and nasty personal attacks. Corzine and Forrester spent upward of $70 million on the governor's race. Acting Gov. Richard Codey assumed the office last year when Gov. Jim McGreevey, a Democrat, resigned over what he said was a homosexual affair, but Codey decided not to run.

In Virginia, at least $42 million was spent in the contest between Kaine and Kilgore, the former state attorney general. Democratic Gov. Mark Warner cannot seek a second term.

A Forrester ad quoted Corzine's ex-wife as saying, "Jon did let his family down, and he'll probably let New Jersey down, too." A Corzine ad featured a paralyzed teenager complaining about Forrester's stance against stem cell research.

A Kilgore ad alleged that Kaine's opposition to the death penalty meant he would not have executed Adolf Hitler. Kaine cites his Roman Catholic beliefs for his opposition to capital punishment, but insisted he would carry out death sentences because they are the law.

Voters said they'd had enough.

CBS News correspondent Jim Axlerod reports that the negative campaigning appeared to have a negative impact at the polls: Turnout was expected to be an all-time low for the governor's race in New Jersey.

"It's absolutely disgraceful to waste all that time and money to be on TV to bash one another," said Priscilla Carter, a New Jersey voter making her choice between millionaires Jon Corzine and Douglas Forrester, who spent a combined $72 million of their own cash on gubernatorial campaigns filled with mud-slinging commercials.

"We all think the politics that we've been seeing on television is pretty disgusting. So, I'm glad it's voting day so we don't have to see it anymore," said Marianne Nelson, 58, a registered nurse who voted for Corzine.

Corzine, as governor, will have the power to choose a successor to fill his unexpired Senate term. The seat will be up for election in a year, but whoever Corzine appoints will likely have a big advantage in that election.

The governors' races are closely scrutinized for possible clues about the mood of the electorate with a year until 2006 elections that will decide control of Congress and the governorships of 36 states.

"Off-term elections are more idiosyncratic, but they're affected by the larger political environment," said Norm Ornstein at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, citing opposition to the Iraq war, the mishandled response to Hurricane Katrina, and the indictment of an aide to Vice President Dick Cheney in the CIA leak investigation.

"You do have some demoralization among Republicans and that can mean a lower turnout," said Ornstein. "It's been an awful time for Republicans."

Voters went to the polls with the Bush approval rating plunging below 40 percent in some polls - the lowest in his presidency.

CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger reports that the president's approval ratings – driven to record lows by the CIA leak investigation, mounting casualties in Iraq and a much criticized response to Hurricane Katrina – may have hurt Republicans.

The GOP may also have lost some ground as a result of criminal charges brought against Rep. Tom DeLay - who was forced to give up his leadership position - and an investigation into the leading Republican in the Senate, Bill Frist.

"In the most significant test of the political environment since 2004, Americans today resoundingly supported the new priorities of Democratic candidates over the status quo policies of President Bush and Republican leadership," said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel in a statement.

In New Jersey, Mr. Bush did not appear with Forrester, and Corzine — who campaigned with former President Clinton — repeatedly tried to link his opponent to the Bush administration.

In mayoral races: