US mayor wins after bug scandal

Street's campaign was invigorated by the FBI bugs

Voters in the US city of Philadelphia have endorsed a second term for its mayor after his campaign was boosted by a bugging scandal.

Democrat John Street led Republican rival Sam Katz by 58% to 42% with votes from 95% of city districts counted.

The campaign was invigorated by the discovery of FBI bugs in City Hall, prompting accusations of dirty tricks.

Meanwhile there were Republican successes in the races for governor in the states of Kentucky and Mississippi.

I have largely been trying to do the things that are in the best interests of the people in Philadelphia John Street Mayor of Philadelphia

Congressman Ernie Fletcher easily defeated his Democrat rival Ben Chandler in Kentucky, polling 55% against 45%.

And in Mississippi Haley Barbour won against incumbent governor Ronnie Musgrove.

Correspondents say the races are being closely watched for trends likely to influence next year's presidential election.

But they also reflect the long-term erosion of support for the Democrats in their former southern stronghold.

Rollercoaster

Mr Street told supporters at a victory party that he had served the city with "intensity and integrity".

"I have largely been trying to do the things that are in the best interests of the people in Philadelphia," he said.

The BBC's David Bamford in Philadelphia says campaigning there has been a roller coaster of an affair.

Erosion of Democrat support continued in Mississippi

Mr Street was facing a well-funded Republican campaign which sought to portray the negative side of the incumbent's time in office.

Mr Katz had accused the mayor of corruption and cronyism.

For his part, Mayor Street said the Republicans had organised a conspiracy backed by federal government to try to end more than 50 years of Democratic control of the city.

The situation took a dramatic turn in early October, when police discovered electronic bugs in the mayor's office.

The FBI later admitted it had planted listening devices without the mayor's knowledge.

The agency said the bugging was part of an investigation into alleged corruption within the city government, though it said Mayor Street was a not himself a suspect.

But rather than damaging the mayor, the scandal fuelled distrust of Washington and saved his campaign.

In other elections throughout the country:

• Democrats took control of the New Jersey legislature, ending a 20-20 tie in the state senate
• Republicans held onto their majorities in the two houses of the Virginia legislature
• San Francisco entrepreneur Gavin Newsom faces a run-off for city mayor despite a big lead over his nearest rival, the Green Party's Matt Gonzalez
• Houston Democrat and businessman Bill White will face conservative Orlando Sanchez in a second round of mayoral elections in December
• Maine voters rejected a $650m gambling resort
• Colorado electors snubbed Governor Bill Owens in a series of referendums on water bonds, gambling and property tax
• Voters in the state capital Denver rejected measures requiring the city to introduce stress-reduction programmes.