Q+A-Voters in Virginia, New Jersey to choose governors

WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Voters in Virginia and New Jersey will elect governors on Tuesday with Republicans and Democrats debating whether the outcome will render the first electoral judgment on U.S. President Barack Obama.

Here are some key questions and answers about the races.

WHAT ABOUT THE VIRGINIA RACE?

In Virginia, former state Attorney General Bob McDonnell, a Republican, has a double-digit lead in opinion polls over Democrat Creigh Deeds, 51, (pronounced Cree), a state senator. The race has centered on taxes and transportation, and McDonnell, well-armed with campaign money, has run a series of television ads pointing out conflicting statements Deeds made about whether he would raise taxes. McDonnell, 55, was dealt a blow, but not a fatal one, by The Washington Post's report that a graduate school thesis he wrote when he was 34 underscored his opposition to abortion and supported tax policies that favored heterosexual families. Deeds' focus on the McDonnell thesis dominated his campaign long after the flap had disappeared from the headlines and he was seen as being overly negative. Two appearances on Deeds' behalf by Obama have had little effect on the electorate.

WHAT ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY RACE?

In New Jersey, Democratic Governor Jon Corzine, 62, is in a tough re-election battle against Republican Chris Christie, 47, a former U.S. attorney in the state. Independent candidate Chris Daggett is a third-party candidate, playing a spoiler role. The race in recent days has been all but tied, with Corzine appearing to have a slight edge in heavily Democratic New Jersey over Christie. The poor state of the economy in New Jersey and Corzine's stewardship of it have been the main issue, although Corzine has made up some ground by accusing Christie of ethical violations. Corzine went so far as to run a television ad that left the impression Christie was too fat to be governor, prompting the portly Republican to tell radio host Don Imus, "If you're going to do it, at least man up and say I'm fat." The key to victory may be on how many votes Daggett takes from either Christie or Corzine.

ISN'T THERE ANOTHER RACE ON TUESDAY?

A wild race in New York's 23rd congressional district took another turn on Saturday when Republican Dede Scozzafava suspended her campaign in a move that could boost a Conservative's battle against a Democrat. The House seat became vacant when Republican John McHugh left to become Obama's Army secretary. Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, endorsed by former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, is running close in opinion polls with Democrat Bill Owens, while Scozzafava was trailing in third place. The race is notable in that a Conservative candidate was doing far better than the Republican, which analysts say is evidence of a split within the Republican Party. Whatever the outcome, it will make little difference to the makeup of the House of Representatives, which has a strong Democratic majority.

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SUM IT UP?