News in pictures

Russia's Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov perform their free program to win the silver medal in the pairs competition at the Home Sense Skate Canada International figure skating competition in Kitchener, Ontario. -- PHOTO: AP

A man rests on the side of a lake in Polonnaruwa, about 216km east of Colombo. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A boy walks over a bridge in the Makoko fishing community in Lagos. Despite being the world's eighth biggest crude oil exporter, 70% of Nigeria's population lives below the poverty line, according to official sources. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A young monkey leaps between trees in a Kuala Lumpur suburb in Malaysia. Many colonies of monkeys still live in inner city communities amongst small areas trees and bush land. -- PHOTO: AP

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruely to Animals (RSPCA) Inspectors return dogs to their owners in Cockermouth, northwest England, after being locked into the upper floors of flooded properties before their rescue. -- PHOTO: AFP

A University of Mississippi police officer searches a member of the Ku Klux Klan before a protest on the steps of Fulton Chapel at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. -- PHOTO: AP

England's Louis Deacon (right) wins the ball from New Zealand's Brad Thorn during their international rugby union match at Twickenham stadium, London. -- PHOTO: AP

Sydney residents and tourists line Bondi Beach. -- PHOTO: AFP

Women soldiers, dressed as "revolutionaries", ride horses as they greet the crowd during a military parade celebrating the 99th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution at the Zocalo square in Mexico City. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A man shows tattoo scarring on his back during the No Violence festival in Havana. Brother Saiz, an association of young Cuban artists, organised the festival and used tattoos and body piercing to draw people's attention to gender violence issues. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A man is handcuffed at the police station of Mariche in the slum of Petare in Caracas. The dozens of murders every weekend in Caracas are just the tip of a crime problem that polls show is Venezuelans' main daily concern. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A worker tries on a headdress that will be used for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that begins Nov 27, in Port of Spain. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A man casts a fishing net in the Makoko fishing community in Lagos. Despite being the world's eighth biggest crude oil exporter, 70% of Nigeria's population live below the poverty line, according to official sources. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Driver Shauna Rohbock and brakewoman Elana Meyers of the United States slide through a curve during their first run at the women's Bobsled World Cup race on Saturday, in Lake Placid N.Y. The pair finished fifth. -- PHOTO: AP

A British Shorthair kitten is being comforted by its owner during an international cat show in Warsaw, Poland. -- PHOTO: AP

Palestinian militants with the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) train in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. -- PHOTO: AFP

Trouble in Iskandar

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — All is not well in Iskandar Malaysia, the country's showpiece economic corridor project.

Two chief executive officers of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) have not lasted two years on the job and there are now rumblings over the slow pace of progress from Middle East investors.

Apart from that, the relationship between some of the main players — the Johor Civil Service (JCS), Khazanah Nasional, Iskandar Investment Board (IIB) — leaves much to be desired.

Unwilling for the situation to unravel further, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is signalling his intention to Putrajaya for the state government to take more control of the mammoth project billed as Malaysia's Shenzen to the developed Singapore across the Johor Straits.

He wants IRDA to come directly under the purview of the state government, and rely less on instructions from Khazanah Nasional, the federal sovereign wealth fund tasked with developing the economic zone named after the state Ruler.

The IRDA board is now jointly chaired by the Prime Minister and the MB but The Malaysian Insider understands that the Johor MB could be assigned full chairmanship, giving him control of the regional authority.

Ghani has already started exerting his authority, much to the chagrin of the top brass in Khazanah Nasional. Late last month, he demanded the resignation of the incumbent CEO Harun Johari.

Officials at Khazanah Nasional wanted Harun to be given six more months on the job but last week, the IRDA board quickly accepted Harun's resignation. He will leave in January 2010 for IRDA to have another fresh start.

Harun, an ex-Shell stalwart, was hand-picked by Khazanah Nasional for the top position. He quickly brought in several of his former Shell colleagues to fill senior executive positions, and the organisation ballooned to over 150 staff under his charge.

His critics charged that he lacked charisma but his supporters argued that he is a process-driven individual who was effective behind the scenes. Harun replaced Datuk Ikmal Hijaz, the former Pos Malaysia CEO.

The latter was also hand-picked by Khazanah Nasional to drive IRDA and make it a world-class, one-stop centre for investors.

After being appointed, Ikmal also surrounded himself with several former colleagues from Pos Malaysia or the now defunct Renong Group, in which he oversaw the construction of the Gelang Patah crossing and massive land acquisition in Nusajaya.

The Malaysian Insider has learnt the new CEO of IRDA is Ismail Ibrahim. He is currently director of the National Physical Planning Division under the Urban and Rural Planning Department.

The Muar-born career public servant, who is a British-trained town planner, was among the pioneers assembled by Khazanah Nasional back in 2006 to draw up the Comprehensive Development Plan for the south Johor Economic Region (now known as Iskandar).

He later served as senior vice-president (Planning & Compliance) and became Johor's Federal Commissioner, but quit suddenly to return to the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

Ghani has already told Ismail that he expects an overhaul of the top management of IRDA, wanting him to rid the authority of deadwood.

At least four senior personnel are expected to be removed.

The JCS — a body whose support is necessary if any project is to take off in the southern state — has welcomed the appointment of Ismail.

Relations between the JCS and Khazanah Nasional have been uneasy since the inception of the project in 2006, with Johor civil servants complaining of being sidelined from the decision-making process. They have resented the fact that important decisions regarding Iskandar were being made in Kuala Lumpur.

The shortcomings in IRDA, and to a lesser extend IIB, come at a time when several of the Middle East investors are exhibiting signs of restlessness at the pace of the project.

Government officials told The Malaysian Insider that Khazanah Nasional was forced to buy back some land in Node 1 of Iskandar which it sold to a consortium of Middle East investors. This happened after some disagreement over responsibilities and obligations.

Parliament: Judges to retain Perdana cars

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has no plans to replace Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars allocated to judges with other models, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin.

“Currently, judges are provided with Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars and the Government has no plans to change to another model,” Awang Adek told Muhammad Husain (PAS-Pasir Puteh) at the Dewan Rakyat here Thursday.

In reply to M. Kulasegaran’s (DAP-Ipoh Barat) suggestion that the time had come for the Government to consider Mercedes Benz cars for judges because Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars were prone to needing constant repairs, Awang Adek said the Government has no plans for such changes.

“If we have to change, not only judges, those provided for ministers, deputy ministers and speakers must also be changed. There have been requests but no decision has been made. I am contented with the Perdana and do not wish to change to another model,” he said.

He added that Proton had also overcome problems faced by the model in 2004.

“Previously, Perdana cars had problems with the gearbox but that has been rectified. Current statistics show that last year only 371 complaints were received compared with 18,371 cases in 2004,” he said. -- Bernama

Penang government is people-centric

NOV 17 – I wish to correct several assertions made by Anil Netto, “Pakatan: Pro-business or pro-people ? — Anil Netto” in the Aliran article on his contention that the Penang state government has bowed down to corporate interests. This is untrue.

The Penang state government holds on to and remains a people-centric government that subscribes to Competency, Accountability and Transparency(CAT). For this reason, the Penang state government has reiterated that there will be full consultation for all major public projects. One should not listen to rumour and treat it as fact.

The Penang state government sympathises with the demands for cancellation of projects by the people affected by projects of those approved by the previous state government.

However any cancellation of the projects approved, such as those in Tanjung Bunga as demanded by the residents, would entail hundreds of millions of ringgit in compensation that would bankrupt the state as it is money that the state government cannot afford.

The state government is still paying off losses of tens of millions of ringgit from land scams committed by the previous BN state government. The PR state government will not fulfill the wishes of BN to see it financially bankrupt.

Much as the state government would like to help the residents in Kampung Buah Pala, the state government cannot defy a Federal Court order or be held in contempt of court.

In subscribing to the rule of law, one can not uphold it when it is in your favour but disregard it when it does not benefit you.

However the state government has successfully obtained from the developer a compensation of a RM 600,000 double-storey terrace houses for 24 of the residents who accepted, the highest compensation amount in history offered in recognition of the plight of the residents who were staying there for nearly 150 years.

What the state government has done is to tighten controls, increase oversight and issue stop work orders over these HILLSLOPE projects, including against developers who have given donations to Penang’s Partners Against Poverty programme, a PR state government initiative to ensure every family in Penang gets a minimum RM 500 a month to become the first state to wipe out hard core poverty in Malaysia.

What is wrong in helping hard-core poor? For Anil to hint of pay-offs or trade-offs to developers because of their donations to help hard-core poor is mischievous and insidious and in common with those who wish to undermine PR state governments with allegations of financial wrongdoing or even corruption.

When the state government reduced the height of buildings within the George Town heritage area to preserve, protect and promote heritage conservation and our Unesco status, a developer for a project approved by the previous BN state government made huge demands for compensation.

Why is Anil strangely silent on this? Does this mean that he is also in cahoots with the developer as he regularly implies when decisions made are not against the developers? And who is going to help us pay all this compensation? Anil?

There are procedures to follow and rules to comply, all of which which entail financial costs. When action taken does not place the state government in danger of being bankrupt or short of funds for social development programmes, the PR state government has never hesitated to act.

Anil refuses to give credit to the state government’s firm and unyielding stance in rejecting the RM25 billion Penang Global & City Centre project, which was announced during the very first days of the Penang PR state administration without any pressure from NGOs.

Let no one question the integrity of Penang state government and its commitment to fighting corruption wherever it exists. This uncompromising stance has been commended not only by the Attorney-General Report 2008 but the CAT governance praised by Transparency International, a first for any state or Federal government in Malaysia.

Whether he realises it or not, Anil is singing the same tune as BN apologists who yearn for the return of the crony government of BN in Penang.

It is not easy to reform a government accustomed to the excesses and bad habits of the previous PR state government for the past 51 years. Mistakes may be made and corrective measures are being taken.

But PR state government will never forget that it is the people’s yearning for change that borught about the political tsunami of March 8 2008 and will ensure that the difference the people wishes to see will be implemented.

* Jeffrey Chew is the Special Investment Officer to Chief Minister of Penang.

Telekom Malaysia plans US$150m bond buyback

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — Telekom Malaysia, the country’s dominant fixed-line services provider, plans to buy back up to US$150 million (RM510) worth of bonds from investors as it seeks to reduce foreign borrowings, the company said today.

Telekom Malaysia has issued an invitation for tender to investors on US$300 million of notes due 2010 and US$500 million of notes due 2014, it said in a filing with the stock exchange.

The 2014 notes are listed on both the Labuan International Financial Exchange and Luxembourg Stock Exchange while the 2010 notes are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, it said.

Telekom Malaysia said the buyback is part of the company’s efforts to reduce its foreign debts following a 2008 demerger.

Telekom Malaysia spun off its mobile phone operations as well as its regional assets in the demerger, keeping just the domestic fixed-line voice, data and broadband business.

The company’s focus on the domestic market “meant that it would no longer require foreign currency borrowings and would have to take steps to minimise its exposure to foreign currency risk,” it said.

The joint dealer managers for the deal are Deutsche Bank AG and HSBC, it said. ? Reuters

Nazri offers to let Karpal prosecute Lingam

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 - Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz revealed today that Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh can represent the Attorney-General (A-G) and prosecute Datuk V.K. Lingam.

Nazri stressed that the government has no reason to defend Lingam and that veteran lawmaker can charge him.

“If Karpal is willing to represent the A-G, I will persuade the AG to engage Karpal to prosecute on the behalf of the government,” he told reporters at the parliament lobby here. “Let him charge ... the government has no reason to defend Lingam.”

Lingam was implicated in a scandal involving senior judges and found by a royal commission to be the person recorded “fixing” the appointment of judges.

The royal commission found strong evidence against Lingam and in its report suggested that action be taken against him and others implicated in the infamous “correct, correct, correct” recording.

Other figures implicated include Eusoff, Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and tycoon Vincent Tan, a close friend of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Photos also emerged of Eusoff and Lingam together on a holiday in New Zealand in the late 1990s.

Nazri explained that Lingam’s action may have been “morally wrong” but stressed that federal prosecutor could not charge him because there are no specific laws against it.

“Give me a section under any Act to charge Lingam. Give me an offence,” he added.

Karpal sounded surprised when he was later asked about Nazri’s offer.

“I am prepared to charge Lingam on the AG's behalf ... what has to be done now is for Nazri to shoot me a fiat (an authoritative order),” said Karpal.

He also hoped that Nazri would not retract the offer and, instead, help expedite the procedures to allow him to take action against Lingam.

On Friday, the deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin confirmed that the government would leave it up to Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to decide if Lingam’s alleged role in fixing judicial appointments should be re-investigated.

Lover loses sex appeal

LONDON - A BRITISH woman lost her appeal on Tuesday against a ban on her noisy sex sessions, after a court heard how her marathon romps that kept neighbours awake sounded like someone being murdered.

Caroline and Steve Cartwright's 'howling' lovemaking sounded 'unnatural', 'hysterical' and 'like they are both in considerable pain', Newcastle Crown Court in north-east England heard.

A 10-minute recording of their sex sessions was played out in court, which also heard how she tried covering her face with a pillow to muffle her cries of passion. Neighbours at their home in Washington, south of Newcastle, complained about the noise - as did passers-by and the postman.

The couple were banned from 'shouting, screaming or vocalisation at such a level as to be a statutory nuisance', but Caroline Cartwright, 48, appealed under human rights laws against her conviction for breaching the ban and lost.

The judge, Recorder Jeremy Freedman, who rejected Cartwright's claim that she was unable to stop the din, said: 'We are in no doubt whatsoever about the level of noise that can be heard in neighbouring properties, in the street and in the back lane. 'It certainly was intrusive and constituted a statutory nuisance. It was clearly of a very disturbing nature and it was also compounded by the duration - this was not a one-off, it went on for hours at a time...virtually every night.'

The romps typically started at midnight and lasted several hours, the judge heard. The local council set up special equipment in O'Connor's flat and recorded noise levels of between 30 to 40 decibels, peaking at 47 - as loud as a conversation in the very same room. -- AFP

China gets M'sia rail project

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia) - MALAYSIA agreed on Wednesday to award a multi-billion-dollar rail project to a Chinese contractor as part of efforts to bolster business ties with its biggest trading partner amid a visit by China's President Hu Jintao.

Both countries also signed agreements to cooperate in banking, education and infrastructure development during a meeting between Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Mr Hu, the first Chinese president to visit Malaysia in 15 years.

'China and Malaysia's relationship is embracing a new era of all-around development. We will work with Malaysia to usher in an even brighter future,' Mr Hu told a news conference.

Malaysia has agreed in principle to grant the construction of a double-track rail line in southern Malaysia to an unspecified Chinese company, Mr Najib said. He did not give details, but government officials earlier this year estimated the track would cover 197km and cost RM7.5 billion (S$3.1 billion).

Officials will also consider letting Chinese companies participate in a northern dam expansion as well as an aluminum smelter and pulp and paper projects on Borneo island, Mr Najib said. Both sides signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation between its banking regulatory authorities in what some analysts believe could be the prelude to allowing a Chinese bank to establish operations in Malaysia.

Mr Hu was scheduled to wrap up his two-day visit to Malaysia later Wednesday before heading to Singapore for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. -- AP

Yudhoyono in M'sia

KUALA LUMPUR - INDONESIAN President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrives in Malaysia on Wednesday for a visit aimed at smoothing over the latest spats between the neighbours, who have a history of troubled relations.

Mr Yudhoyono will be given a full state welcome at Parliament Square in the afternoon, before an evening audience with Malaysia's king and a state banquet.

On Thursday he will hold talks with Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak.

Discussions are expected to cover allegations of mistreatment of Indonesian maids, a territorial dispute, regional terrorism and wrangles over cultural issues that have caused anger in Indonesia.

'I think we have our ups and downs,' Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told AFP ahead of the visit. 'What is important is that wisdom and sincerity prevails among our top leaders so that (contentious issues) will not jeopardise our relationship.'

Mr Hishammuddin said the discussions between Mr Najib and Mr Yudhoyono would cover the issues of 'foreign workers, terrorism, Islamic militancy, border security and drug trafficking'. -- AFP

Tian Chua threatened with RM10mil suit

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR strategic director Tian Chua has been threatened with a RM10mil defamation suit by a Sandakan Umno member for alleging discrepancies in the Rural Electricity Supply-Project for Sabah and Sarawak.

He said he had received a letter of demand from a Datuk Md Afendi Hamdan, who is claimed to have been named as one of four brokers who had awarded the project to contractors for a commission.

In the letter, Md Afendi said Tian Chua's press statement had damaged his reputation.

Tian Chua told reporters at the Parliament lobby that he would maintain his stand that the awarding of the Rural Electricity Supply Project was implemented without the proper tender process.

He urged Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to freeze the project in order to call for a closed tender as determined by the Finance Ministry to demonstrate transparency.

Tian Chua had also lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on Oct 20 to investigate discrepancies in awarding the contracts for the project.

"I hope the MACC will investigate this matter fast. If it is not investigated in a fair and just manner, I will be forced to reveal more evidence of the award of the contracts to the media," he warned.

- Asiaone

Asri slams Jais for stopping non-Muslims entering mosques

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — Controversial former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin continued his campaign against his persecutors, the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais), by calling the agency extremists for not allowing non-Muslims to enter mosques in the state.

He had previously said that Jais should do away with "authorisation" letters for preachers as it goes against the freedom of expression, even within Islam.

This time he picked on Jais director Datuk Mohamed Khusrin Munawi who told Utusan Malaysia that non-Muslims cannot enter mosques as "they are like women with menstruation" after an alleged ceramah by Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar in a Klang mosque.

Muslim women who are menstruating usually do not go to mosques to pray.

"This is a shallow and narrow view. This is the kind of statement that repels and alienates non-Muslims from Islam. It gives a wrong and false impression of the religion," Asri told The Malaysian Insider today.

He added that even during the time of Prophet Muhammad, non-Muslims were allowed to enter mosques as this would be the best way for them to experience the religion first hand.

"It will give non-Muslims the opportunity to get to know Islam better and Muslims too can engage them in the spirit of constructive dialogue. Isn't this good for Islam?" commented Asri.

The university lecturer also said that he is certain that Jais will not take his views well and in anticipation of that warned them against labelling him a "Wahabbi" or a follower of a purist sect in Islam not recognised by the country's religious elite.

"Don't call me a Wahabbi simply because I have different views. As I said, even at the time of the great Prophet Muhammad, non-Muslims were allowed to enter mosques," he said.

Asri and Jais have been engaging each other in an ongoing war of words. The progressive views of the former Perlis mufti do not gel with the views of the conservatives which make up the majority of the country's religious elite.

He claimed his views and his rise to prominence have been viewed as a threat to their authority, saying the “war” between them culminated in his arrest last Sunday while he was giving a private talk in Ampang. He was freed on bail and is awaiting charges for lecturing without a “tauliah” or permit.

Jais denied that Asri's arrest was politically motivated.

Girl, 11, gives birth at wedding

SLIVEN (Bulgaria) - AN 11-year-old girl became a mother after going into labour during her wedding to her teenage boyfriend, reported European media on Monday.

Kordeza Zhelyazkova was still wearing her wedding dress and tiara when she arrived at hospital and gave birth to little Violeta.

The schoolgirl, of Sliven, Bulgaria, fell pregnant within just two weeks of her 11th birthday. She gave birth last week with 19-year-old husband Jeliazko Dimitrov at her side.

'I'm not going to play with toys any more - I have a new toy now,' Kordeza told Britain's News of the World newspaper. 'She is so beautiful, I love her. Violeta is the child and I must grow up. I am not going back to school - I am a mother now.'

Kordeza met Jeliazko in the playground of her gypsy school when he rescued her from bullies. Their daughter was conceived within a week. Kordeza admitted: 'I haven't had sex education classes and I didn't know how to get pregnant. I'd never had a boyfriend and I'd never heard of condoms.'

The pair had a traditional Roma wedding - but now Jeliazko is facing up to six years behind bars for having sex with a minor. 'I'm scared. I want to look after my wife and child. Instead I may be going to prison,' he said. 'I made a mistake but I am not going to apologise for that because now I have beautiful Violeta.'

Peeping Tom jailed a month

BUSINESSMAN Lee Kok Seng, 36, not only collected rent from a woman tenant, he also enjoyed 'live entertainment' every time she took a shower.

A district court heard on Tuesday that he had installed a pinhole video camera in the toilet of his flat in Punggol.

With a signal receiver, he would view the 22-year-old clerk bathing in the nude on the television set in his bedroom.

The wireless free show came to an end on Aug 6 when the tenant discovered the camera. She called her boyfriend who reported to police later that day.

Lee pleaded guilty to insulting the modesty of the victim on the morning of July 12 and 26.

He could have been jailed for up to a year and/or fined.

Rihanna 'humiliated' by photo

LOS ANGELES - POP singer Rihanna was named Woman of the Year by Glamour magazine on Tuesday after an attack at the hands of boyfriend Chris Brown that she said changed her life overnight.

'I went to sleep as Rihanna and woke up as Britney Spears. That was the level of media chaos that happened the next day,' the 21 year-old singer said in her first interview since the assault in February.

The R&B singer told the December issue of Glamour magazine that she felt humiliated when a photo of her bruised and bloodied face was leaked to the media, but that she wanted to use the incident to alert young women to the 'big secret' of abusive relationships.

'It was humiliating: that is not a photo you would show to anybody,' she said. 'I felt completely taken advantage of. I felt like people were making it into a fun topic on the Internet, and it's my life.

Brown, 20, was one of the fastest rising young R&B artists in the United States before his assault on his girlfriend of about a year on the eve of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. He was sentenced to five years probation and community service in August and has publicly apologised.

Rihanna, whose hits include Umbrella and Disturbia said the positive outcome of the story grabbing worldwide attention was that she could now speak up on behalf of young women in similar situations. -- REUTERS

Live Blogging Election Night

N.Y. 23rd | 7:32 p.m. New York’s 23rd Congressional District hasn’t stopped buzzing for days, with national conservative Republicans opining and jumping in with big endorsements and money. Polls don’t close there until 9 p.m., but we wanted to offer some new details that have emerged about spending in what’s called the North Country of New York.

The Club for Growth PAC, a conservative anti-tax group, issued a statement earlier indicating that it raised nearly $1 million to support Douglas Hoffman, the Conservative party candidate, in this Congressional district: $645,000 in radio and television advertising and more than $376,000 in bundled donations. The organization only announced its endorsement of Mr. Hoffman about a week ago. It also enlisted former New York Gov. George Pataki for automated phone calls to district residents to help get out the vote. The Atlantic’s Chris Good laid out other spending in the race, noting that national Democrats have spent quite a lot too on behalf of Democrat Bill Owens.

Mr. Pataki’s recent involvement in the race — showing up last week to endorse Mr. Hoffman before the Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, dropped out on Saturday, carried a certain sting, she told The Syracuse Post-Standard in an interview. She said that not one Republican called her after she withdrew, and she also singled out Mr. Pataki’s emergence in the race last week as stinging because she had campaigned for him when he ran for governor.

As for the national Republicans who rallied against her in droves, she said: “The amount of hate and lies and the deceitfulness,” she said. “I don’t believe that should be the characteristics that define the Republican Party. I think people should be allowed to have discussions and reasonable disagreements. But this was a full frontal assault on me personally and politically, for weeks.”

As for learning the results in this contest, don’t hold your breath. Remember the last special election upstate to replace Kirsten Gillibrand in the 20th Congressional District? The outcome in Scott Murphy’s favor wasn’t official for about three weeks.

At the time, national Democrats seized on the victory as a sign that Mr. Obama’s election popularity would carry their candidates through Congressional battles. Yes, that was just a little more than six months ago.

Welcome We’ll be here throughout the evening, watching the returns in some key races. So stay with us for updates.

First up tonight will be Virginia, where the polls just closed. Robert McDonnell, the Republican, had a healthy lead against R. Creigh Deeds, the Democrat, as voters headed to the polls. Early exit polls showed Mr. McDonnell ahead, with the turnout fairly light to moderate.

Because President Obama took the state last year — the first time a Democrat had done so in more than four decades — the off-year gubernatorial race has been heavily (and probably overly) scrutinized for what it may mean for the White House and Democrats heading in to the 2010 midterms.

At a pool spray after a meeting at the White House today, Chip Reid, a CBS News reporter, shouted out a question to Mr. Obama, asking whether he thought tonight’s results were a referendum on his tenure. “Good try, Chip,” the president said, without elaborating.

While both Virginia Senate seats are now held by Democrats, and the departing governor, Timothy Kaine, is a Democrat (and the head of the Democratic National Committee), Republicans have seized on the gubernatorial race as a way to recoup from last year’s losses.

Much of the debate here has centered on more local issues like taxes and roads, although the economic downturn has certainly dampened some enthusiasm for President Obama’s policies in certain quarters. Mr. Deeds seemed to distance himself from the president during the campaign, infrequently reaching out to him or mentioning him on the trail. As for Mr. McDonnell, he seemed, by some accounts, to be disinclined to seek help from Republicans like former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who drew huge crowds to places like Leesburg when she campaigned as the vice-presidential nominee last year. In the end, she wound up as a voice on automated phone calls aimed at Virginia voters these last several days.

The state’s northern suburbs are heavily populated by young families and Beltway commuters, but the state also contains a sizable military contingent that is considered more traditionally Republican.

Voters also are electing an attorney general, with Republican Ken Cuccinelli leading Democrat Steve Shannon. Lieut. Gov. Bill Bolling, the incumbent, is running for re-election against Democrat Jody Wagner. In addition, 69 of the state’s House seats are contested this year

- The New York Times
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