Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Notes from Associated Press exit polls
Some highlights of data from exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks in the Virginia presidential primaries Tuesday.
RACE AND GENDER:
Barack Obama had at least as many white voters as blacks in Democratic primaries. The majority of voters were women, and more than half of them favored Obama, as did nine in 10 black voters and about half of white voters.
More than eight in 10 voters said the country is ready to elect a female or black president. Close to half said they thought the country was "definitely" ready for a black or female president. Still, nearly two-thirds of those who said the country was ready for a woman president chose Obama, as did two-thirds of those who said it was ready for a black president.
CONSERVATIVES VS. MODERATES:
About a third of Republican voters described themselves as very conservative, with two-thirds favoring Mike Huckabee. Conservative talk radio seemed to play a role in some Republicans' decisions. About six in 10 said they tune in frequently or occasionally, and about half of those favored Huckabee. John McCain was favored by two-thirds of moderates, but they only make up a quarter of the GOP electorate.
The majority of Republicans said illegal immigrants should be deported and that abortion should be illegal, with about half of those favoring Huckabee.
CHANGE VS. EXPERIENCE:
More than half of the Democratic voters said it was important that the candidate bring about needed change, with about four of five voting for Obama. A quarter of voters said experience was most important, with nine in 10 of those favoring Hillary Clinton.
FAITH AND VALUES:
About three-fourths of voters in the Republican primary were Protestant or Christian, with about half of those favoring Huckabee, a Baptist minister.
ECONOMIC CONCERNS:
Nearly nine in 10 voters said the economy was not so good or poor, and two-thirds of those chose Obama. The majority of Democratic voters said the economy was the most important issue facing the country, and about two-thirds of those favored Obama.
Republican voters were split on the state of the economy, with the majority of those who thought it wasn't doing too good favoring McCain.
WAR IN IRAQ:
About three-quarters of Republican voters said they approved of the U.S. war in Iraq, with about half of those voting for McCain. About a third of Democratic voters said the war was most pressing, with two-thirds of those choosing Obama.
LEADERSHIP:
Republican voters thought McCain was most qualified to manage the economy and to be commander in chief. Three-fourths of Republican voters said they would be satisfied if McCain is the nominee.
The majority of voters said Obama is most likely to unite the country and is most qualified to be commander in chief.
JUMPING THE FENCE:
About one in 10 voters who voted in the Democratic primary said they usually consider themselves Republican, and of those, about three-fourths favored Obama. About two-thirds of independents also chose Obama.
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From samples of 864 Democratic primary voters and 461 Republican primary voters conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International in 30 precincts across Virginia on Tuesday. Margin of sampling error plus or minus 5 percentage points for the Democratic primary and 7 points for the Republican.
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On the Net:
Methodology details: http://surveys.ap.org/exitpolls/feb5method.html
RACE AND GENDER:
Barack Obama had at least as many white voters as blacks in Democratic primaries. The majority of voters were women, and more than half of them favored Obama, as did nine in 10 black voters and about half of white voters.
More than eight in 10 voters said the country is ready to elect a female or black president. Close to half said they thought the country was "definitely" ready for a black or female president. Still, nearly two-thirds of those who said the country was ready for a woman president chose Obama, as did two-thirds of those who said it was ready for a black president.
CONSERVATIVES VS. MODERATES:
About a third of Republican voters described themselves as very conservative, with two-thirds favoring Mike Huckabee. Conservative talk radio seemed to play a role in some Republicans' decisions. About six in 10 said they tune in frequently or occasionally, and about half of those favored Huckabee. John McCain was favored by two-thirds of moderates, but they only make up a quarter of the GOP electorate.
The majority of Republicans said illegal immigrants should be deported and that abortion should be illegal, with about half of those favoring Huckabee.
CHANGE VS. EXPERIENCE:
More than half of the Democratic voters said it was important that the candidate bring about needed change, with about four of five voting for Obama. A quarter of voters said experience was most important, with nine in 10 of those favoring Hillary Clinton.
FAITH AND VALUES:
About three-fourths of voters in the Republican primary were Protestant or Christian, with about half of those favoring Huckabee, a Baptist minister.
ECONOMIC CONCERNS:
Nearly nine in 10 voters said the economy was not so good or poor, and two-thirds of those chose Obama. The majority of Democratic voters said the economy was the most important issue facing the country, and about two-thirds of those favored Obama.
Republican voters were split on the state of the economy, with the majority of those who thought it wasn't doing too good favoring McCain.
WAR IN IRAQ:
About three-quarters of Republican voters said they approved of the U.S. war in Iraq, with about half of those voting for McCain. About a third of Democratic voters said the war was most pressing, with two-thirds of those choosing Obama.
LEADERSHIP:
Republican voters thought McCain was most qualified to manage the economy and to be commander in chief. Three-fourths of Republican voters said they would be satisfied if McCain is the nominee.
The majority of voters said Obama is most likely to unite the country and is most qualified to be commander in chief.
JUMPING THE FENCE:
About one in 10 voters who voted in the Democratic primary said they usually consider themselves Republican, and of those, about three-fourths favored Obama. About two-thirds of independents also chose Obama.
———
From samples of 864 Democratic primary voters and 461 Republican primary voters conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International in 30 precincts across Virginia on Tuesday. Margin of sampling error plus or minus 5 percentage points for the Democratic primary and 7 points for the Republican.
———
On the Net:
Methodology details: http://surveys.ap.org/exitpolls/feb5method.html
