IT is very difficult to keep track of the cycle of elections in the United States of America. Almost every year, elections are taking place either for the Congress or in the states. That is the beauty of the democratic style of governing the country.

Since the presidential and congressional elections in November, 2008, elections to elect governors in Virginia and New Jersey, and special election to 23rd congressional district of New York, have taken place in November this year. The election of governors in Virginia and New Jersey has not generated as much enthusiasm as was witnessed in the presidential and congressional elections last year. In Virginia, the turnout dropped from 76 to 39 percent from last year's presidential election. Governors are executive heads who govern the states independent of the Federal government. Every state in the United States enjoys autonomous status.

The results of the well-publicised election of governors have turned out to be as the Gallup polls suggested only days before the election on November 3. Robert McDonnell, attorney general in Virginia State defeated Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds, state senator, while Republican Chris Christie unseated sitting governor Jon Corzine, a Democrat in New Jersey. The Republican party bagged all three important posts in Virginia State, including lt. governor and attorney general.

This has happened despite President Barack Obama's crossing the Potomac River into Virginia twice to weigh the gubernatorial race in favour of Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds, while vice-president Joe Biden and former president Bill Clinton campaigned in Virginia. The only good news that emerged from the election in the 23rd congressional district of New York, where Democratic candidate Bill Owens won. He will succeed Republican Representative John M. McHugh, who was selected by President Obama to be secretary of the army.

As a matter of historical fact, Virginia became a blue state when President Obama won majority votes in 2008. Democrats have been enjoying an unbroken string of victories in state election since Mark Wagner's election as governor in 2001, followed by victories for Governor Tim Kaine, Senator Jim Web in 2006, and Mark Wagner as senator in 2008. That string remained broken in state election this year.

There have been suggestions, both from media pundits and the Republican party, that the results of the elections in two important states could be interpreted as a referendum on President Barack Obama. According to a survey conducted by CNN during election day, the economy and jobs were the main concern for voters in those states. 26 percent voters in New Jersey thought that property taxes were a major issue and another 20 percent blamed corruption. In Virginia, health care, taxes and transportation problem were the major concern of the voters.

Democrat activists paint another picture. They are of the opinion that both Creigh Deeds and the sitting governor in New Jersey failed to provide independent voters appropriate reasons to support them.

The Republican party has staged a comeback in both states, and is looking forward to the 2010 congressional elections. Young Turks and sophomores in the Democratic party were apparently scared after seeing the big margins in the election, while they themselves got elected by narrow margins in 2006 and 2008 in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

It appears that young activists in the Republican party drove independent voters to cast votes in favour of their candidates. Independent voters were a major factor in installing President Obama in the Oval Office. 66 percent and 60 percent independent voters switched their allegiance to the candidates of the Republican party in Virginia and New Jersey respectively. House Representative Democrat Gerry Connolly from Virginia holds the opinion that the Republicans were more disciplined and energised while Democrats were not successful at sustaining the momentum from last year's election.

Many Democrat pundits are suggesting that elections were held on the basis of local issues and performance of the candidates. It would be naïve to suggest that it is a referendum on the President Obama. This has been reflected in the survey conducted by CNN, which indicated that this election was not solely focused on Obama. 56 percent of voters in Virginia did not count President Obama as a factor while 60 percent in New Jersey dismissed that notion.

It is an eye opener for the Democratic Party to initiate action to help improve economic conditions, although President Obama began his journey with a huge budget deficit, huge foreign debt, great economic depression and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that he inherited from the Republican President George W. Bush. Democrats need to create more job opportunities in the country if they intend to retain majority seats in the congress in 2010. Corruption at state and federal level should also be stopped to restore confidence in voters. The results of the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey should not be taken lightly.

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired Bangladesh diplomat and past President of Nova Toastmasters International Club, writes from Virginia.