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The electorate that helped bring President Barack Obama to the White House just one year ago overwhelmingly selected former Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell (R) to be its next governor.

McDonnell easily defeated Democratic state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, winning about 59 percent of the votes, according to unofficial results.

Current Lt. Gov. William T. Bolling (R) was re-elected for a second term and Centreville's state Sen. Ken T. Cuccinelli II (R) was elected attorney general, both with similar margins over their Democratic opponents.

In election-night speeches, the Republicans promised to grow the state's economy by reducing regulation and to improve the state's transportation system without raising taxes.

"We will do everything possible to keep taxes and regulation and litigation to a minimum here in Virginia," McDonnell said, pledging that "we will leave Virginia better than we found it."

Deeds trailed by double digits in the polls for the last several weeks of the campaign and was unable to make up ground. In a largely negative campaign, Deeds attacked McDonnell's support for a religious conservative social agenda, which the Republican advocated in a graduate thesis 20 years ago.

Once the results were in Tuesday night, however, Deeds and other Democrats pledged to work across party lines to solve the state's economic and budgetary challenges.

"I look forward to maintaining my longstanding record of reaching across the aisle and working together to create workable solutions for the challenges we face," Deeds said. "I hope that Bob McDonnell ... and all Democrats and Republicans will join me in that commitment."

During the campaign, McDonnell easily brushed aside his viewpoints on social issues by campaigning on issues important to average suburban voters - growing the state's economy and trying to solve the transportation funding crisis.

Although Deeds, and many state delegates, derided McDonnell's transportation plan as full of pie-in-the-sky gimmicks, the Democrat was unable to convince voters that he had a better idea.

Jim Carey of Springfield said he didn't like much of what he heard about transportation from either side. "I haven't heard a good solution yet," he said, saying all he heard from the gubernatorial candidates was their attacks on each other.

"Without a doubt it was a poorly run campaign," Mark Rozell, professor of public policy at George Mason University, said of the Deeds campaign. "The candidate did not inspire confidence that he had clear answers on key issues."

As Fox Mill resident Ron Lipscomb put it, "Deeds is a joke. He has no ideas."

Budget issues -particularly preserving education funding--and the county's problems with traffic congestion were the top concerns driving Northern Virginia voters to the polls Tuesday.

"I think [McDonnell] has a better plan for the economy and a better picture for the transportation system," said Fernando Duran, of Springfield.

Sylvia Stevens of McLean backed Deeds because of his plans to fund transportation improvements.

"I personally am not against being taxed if it means a better transportation system," she said.

Voters' opinions of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) seemed to be a factor in their votes as well.

"Unfortunately, I don't think he has been able to reach across the aisle and get things moving," McLean resident Marilyn Heebner said of Kaine. She voted for the Republican ticket. "I'm hoping this new ticket will be able to do that."

Claudia McDowell of Springfield said she is a big fan of Kaine but wasn't automatically sold on Deeds. "I thought about it very hard," she said, and ultimately voted for Deeds because she wants to ensure education funding is protected.

Staff Writer Gregg MacDonald contributed to this report.