Economy becomes No. 1 issue in govs' races

[Judi Lynn]

Source: MSNBC/Associated Press

Economy becomes No. 1 issue in govs' races
Eleven states to elect governors in attempts to reduce Democrats' edge
updated 26 minutes ago

In his bid to become the next governor of Missouri, Rep. Kenny Hulshof survived a bitter primary that at one point saw the candidates bashing each other for supporting public funding for drugs such as Viagra.

Then came the catastrophe on Wall Street. Now the economy has become the overriding issue that's tightening governors races across the nation.

"It's going to be the No. 1 reason someone keeps their job or loses it," said Del Ali, who has conducted polls in several governors' races.

Eleven states elect governors this fall, offering Republicans a chance to reduce the Democrats' current 28-22 majority of governors' seats.

And this year is only a prelude to 2010, when three of every five states will elect a governor. The winners of those races will have a crucial edge when it comes time to redraw electoral maps based on the 2010 census.





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