[jQuery] $("area") not selecting in IE

[Chrisw]

I am using an image map and some jquery to highlight (by applying a
border) an image outside of the image map. I am using the code below:

                                $("area").hover(function(){
                                                var stateClass;
                                                stateClass = 
$(this).attr("class");
                                                var stateClassQuery;
                                                alert(stateClass);//for testing
                                                stateClassQuery = 
"#"+stateClass;
                                                
$(stateClassQuery).addClass('selected');
                                        //mouse out
                                                },
                                                function(){
                                                var stateClass;
                                                stateClass = 
$(this).attr("class");
                                                var stateClassQuery;
                                                stateClassQuery = 
"#"+stateClass;
                                                
$(stateClassQuery).removeClass('selected');
                                                }
                                        );

It works in FF and Safire however, it will not work in IE. For some
reason IE dose not seem to be selecting any of the “area” elements.

-chris