Voters would support candidates who had to make tough decisions on the issues, both domestic and international, that are affecting the people of America. The beauty of the mid-term election is that apart from the presentation of popular candidates by the parties concerned, important issues are reflected on ballot paper. Therefore, the voters not only elect their representatives, but express their opinion on the issues as well.

This year Republican losses in the House and the Senate could be attributed to President Bush's low performance rating in handling state affairs: 57 percent disapproved of his performance in office, while 59 percent were either angry or dissatisfied with his administration's corruption. Political analysts hold the view that the November 7 mid-term election was a referendum on the war in Iraq. The third issue was the performance of the Republican dominated Congress: 61 percent disapproved of their performance.

In this midterm election a huge number of women voters exercised their right of franchise to register their opinions on important issues facing the country. There is no doubt that the results are a reflection of the American voters' frustration with the Republicans. The scandals, corruption, indictments, resignation of leaders, investigations, the torture of prisoners and surveillance on Americans continued to dominate the news in the days on the eve of the elections that changed the political landscape.

In the mid-term election the wind blew in favour of the Democratic Party as can be seen from the polls result which indicates that one-third of the electorates voted to send a message of opposition to the president. Among the voters who backed the president's re-election in 2004, one in six voted for Democrat House candidates. Across the country, President Bush's unpopularity was, in fact a burden for many Republicans to bear.

The election result was also a rebuff to the president's top strategist Karl Rove's plan to make national security and war on terrorism the election issues, while the president was focusing on the economic growth and low employment rate over the years. The voters did not buy their arguments. While admitting that terrorism was an important issue, a majority of them voted in favour of Democrats, which implies that voters have no confidence in the Republican leadership. Voters gave the economy a negative rating. Corruption was considered extremely important by the voters: 62 percent disapproved of the role of the Congress.

With war and scandals driving the vote, Democrats succeeded in nationalizing the campaign. Two important non-political watchdog organizations -- MoveOn and Answer coalition -- contributed in organizing a large voter turn-out as a result of their relentless campaign against the war in Iraq. For example, thousands of people across the country participated in protest demonstrations against the war in Iraq on October 28 -- just 8 days before the elections.

Some misleading flyers, telephone calls to voters diverting their attention on the election day, and negative ads on TV boomeranged on the Republican candidates. For example, the Republican senator in Virginia, George Allen, spent a lot of money portraying Democrat candidate Jim Webb as being anti-women. The results were contrary to what the Republicans expected: 55 percent of women voted in favour of Jim Webb, who is an anti-war activist, and unseated the Republican senator. George Allen was aspiring for presidential candidature.

The results of the mid-term elections were a major setback for the president, who will remain in power for a period of two more years. Mid-term election incidentally, typically cost the president's party seats in a second term. This happened during the second term presidency of Richard Nixon in 1974, but did not happen during the presidency of Bill Clinton in 1998.

The verdict of the people gives the impression that the American voters, particularly the middle class, can't be taken for granted by either political party. Voters in some states rejected illegal immigration and approved raising of the minimum wage for the working class, whereas the Republican-led federal government refused to raise the minimum wage for nearly a decade.

The message of the voters is clear and loud: end the war in Iraq, bring back American troops -- ending occupation, raise minimum wage for working class, establish high moral ethics in the Congress and checks and balances for the executive branch of the government. Many analysts are of the opinion that the results reflect a national sentiment that has soured on Republicans, President Bush, and war in Iraq.

Possibly the best assessment of the debacle of the Republican party came from the Republican senator John McCain, an aspirant presidential candidate for 2008, who is reported to have said: "Many of our voters have begun to believe that we value power over principle." That is why in, fact, voters have spoken on election day about the Republican's arrogance and culture of corruption.

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a former diplomat, writes from Virginia.