In two remarkably tight races, Republicans alsothreatened the re-election bids of New Jersey Gov.Jim Florio and New York Mayor David Dinkins. NewYork and New Jersey were too close for comfort--orsafe predictions--as voters got the final sayafter roller-coaster campaigns.

As the votes were counted into the night,challengers Whitman and Giuliani were leading, butnarrowly.

Former federal prosecutor Giuliani led 50percent to 49 percent with 40 percent of the votecounted in New York City. A Dinkins loss in NewYork wouldn't do much to the overwhelming edgeDemocrats enjoy at city halls, but a Giuliani winwould put the biggest city in GOP hands for thefirst time in nearly a quarter-century.

With 63 percent of New Jersey's vote counted,Whitman led 51 percent to 48 percent. Florio's$2.8 billion 1990 tax hike was the paramount issuein that contest, viewed as a test of whetherpoliticians could overcome public anger by sellingtaxes as tough but sometimes necessary medicine.

There were scores of mayoral contests on theballot, and with so many incumbents bowing out,change was the watchword in urban politics.

Hartford's Democratic Mayor Carrie Saxon Perrywas swamped by independent Michael Peters. Miaminarrowed its mayoral field from three to twocandidates