Trumpeting statehouse victories in Virginia and New Jersey, Republicans swept off-year voting and claimed bragging rights heading into next year's pivotal midterm elections. "You cannot allow Republicans to get the advantage on taxes," a prominent Democrat said after the GOP had done just that.

In New Jersey, GOP Gov. Christie Whitman won a cliffhanger re-election in the marquee race of 1997, defeating a surprisingly strong Democratic opponent and overcoming disenchantment among some conservative Republicans.Republican victories were powered by heavy national party spending that Democrats couldn't match. That paid off on New York's Staten Island, among other races, where a GOP newcomer easily retained custody of the sole House seat at stake in Tuesday's elections.

Republicans earned an unprecedented sweep of Virginia's three top offices. Former Attorney General Jim Gilmore won the governor's race, riding opposition to the state's car tax. Democrats kept one lever of power, denying Republicans control of the House of Delegates.

GOP Mayor Rudolph Giuliani marched to re-election in New York City, one of many mayors of both parties returned to office by satisfied voters. Mayors of Cleveland and Detroit were among those re-elected.

Thought to have aspirations for national office, Giuliani refused in the afterglow of his victory to pledge to serve out a full four-year second term. "I don't cut off options," said on NBC's "Today" show.

"Great momentum!" crowed Republican Party Chairman Jim Nicholson, sizing up the party's successful night. He predicted the anti-tax message that worked for the GOP in Virginia could be replayed nationwide next year.

Democrats signaled they had gotten the message.

"You cannot allow Republicans to get the advantage on taxes," said Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. "You have to neutralize them on that issue."

Shut out in all the top races, members of President Clinton's party were left to find solace anyplace they could.

Democratic Party Chairman Roy Romer called it a "great victory" that his party came close against Whitman, who eked out a win, 47 percent to 46 percent, over Jim McGreevey.

Flanked by her husband and 18-year-old son at a Plainsboro hotel, New Jersey's first female governor savored her hard-won re-election.

"This is truly a wonderful victory because it does speak to all we've been doing for the state of New Jersey," Whitman said.

In Virginia, Gilmore told a euphoric Republican crowd in Richmond, "We have here tonight a truly historic election."

Gilmore replaces Republican Gov. George Allen, barred by law from serving another term. Republicans were also elected as lieutenant governor and attorney general, with help from GOP donations that the Democrats could not match.

The stakes for both parties will be far higher in 1998, when all 435 House and 34 Senate seats and 36 governorships will be at stake.

Nowhere was the power of pocketbook issues for the GOP more evident than in Virginia, where Gilmore triumphed on the strength of his pledge to scrap the hated personal property tax on cars and trucks. His Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, couldn't get traction with his argument that the tax cut would damage public schools and other services.

Nicholson said that should be Lesson No. 1 for GOP congressional and gubernatorial candidates in 1998.

"The message is: Study Virginia and emulate it and effectively develop your ideas on cutting taxes and improving education," Nicholson said. "This race in Virginia will be a model for other races next year."

House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., credited Gilmore with giving Republicans "a renewed sense that they must define an issue that means something to people and stick to the message."

The lone congressional contest on Tuesday's ballot had economic overtones as well.

Bidding to replace Republican Rep. Susan Molinari, who traded in her House seat for a TV career, New York City Councilman Vito Fossella, a Republican, trounced Assemblyman Eric Vitaliano with ads that accused the Democrat of backing state tax increases.

Still, Rep. Martin Frost of Texas, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, rejected any notion of ill portents for his party in 1998. He said heavy GOP spending against Vitaliano - the national party poured in nearly $1.5 million - was evidence of what a strong challenge the Republicans had faced.

New York's mayoral race gave Republicans more cause for cheer, as Giuliani became the first Republican mayor to win a second term there in 56 years. The mayor's victory over Manhattan borough president Ruth Messinger turned on his record in curbing crime and making New York a more livable city.

Other big-city incumbents offered return engagements included Thomas Menino of Boston, Dennis Archer of Detroit, Michael White in Cleveland, Tom Murphy of Pittsburgh, Sharon Sayles Belton of Minneapolis and Norm Coleman in St. Paul, Minn.

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Incumbents Bill Campbell in Atlanta and Joe Carollo in Miami faced runoffs after failing to win a majority. In Houston, former drug czar Lee Brown will face businessman Rob Mosbacher in a December runoff.

On two closely watched ballot issues, voters opted to stick with the status quo.

In Oregon, voters refused to scrap the nation's only assisted suicide law, which allows doctors to help patients take their lives. Houston voters, meanwhile, stuck with an affirmative action plan that benefits women and minorities in city contracting and hiring.

Washington voters defeated four major ballot proposals advocating tighter gun restrictions, workplace protections for gays, legalized pot for medical use and health plan adjustments to allow patients to keep their doctors when they switch jobs.

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