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

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


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