Highlights from survey of NH primary voters

Some highlights of final data from exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday.

WOMEN MOVE TOWARD CLINTON

In a crucial turnabout from last week in Iowa, Hillary Rodham Clinton defeated Barack Obama among women, 46 percent to 34 percent. Obama had edged her among women in Iowa. While Obama had a large advantage among New Hampshire men, women made up 57 percent of the Democratic vote in New Hampshire Tuesday. John Edwards trailed with both genders. Among Republicans, McCain had an edge among women, while he and Romney were about even with men.

THAT OFFSET OBAMA'S SHOWING AMONG THE COVETED ...

... independents, who can vote in either primary and comprised about four in 10 voters in each party's contest. Obama bested Clinton among them, 41 percent to 31 percent. John McCain led Mitt Romney among Republicans, 40 percent to 27 percent. Obama and McCain had also done well among independents in Iowa, where those voters are a much smaller share of the vote. In a possible litmus test of where the excitement is this year, about six in 10 independents opted to vote in the Democratic contest.

THIS YEAR'S BUZZWORD...

... is change, of course, and more than half of Democrats said they were looking for a candidate who could make it happen. As in Iowa, Obama got the biggest part of that group, 55 percent. Twenty-eight percent chose Clinton Tuesday, compared to 19 percent of them who picked Clinton in Iowa. One in five Democrats said they wanted a candidate with experience, a group Clinton carried overwhelmingly with 71 percent. Clinton and Edwards were tied among those seeking an empathetic candidate.

WHAT REPUBLICANS WANT

The top quality Republicans were seeking in a candidate was one who shares their values, followed by one who is authentic and a contender with experience. Romney led among those naming values, while McCain got more than half the votes of those seeking a candidate who says what he believes, and those who most value experience.

PIOUS VOTERS

Nearly a quarter of New Hampshire GOP voters said they were born again or evangelical voters, compared to the six in 10 in last week's Iowa Republican caucuses that boosted Mike Huckabee to his win there. In New Hampshire on Tuesday, Huckabee, McCain and Romney each got more than a quarter of these voters. Among those who were not similarly religious, McCain and Romney each won the support of more than a third, compared to fewer than one in 10 who backed Huckabee.

McCain led Romney and Huckabee with those who said it mattered that their candidate share their religious beliefs. Romney's Mormonism has alienated some voters, previous polls have showed. Romney got more than half the vote in Iowa of those who said the candidate's religion mattered a lot; in New Hampshire he got half that amount.

THE HEART OF THE PARTY

Obama and Clinton both received support from about four in 10 liberals, who comprised more than half of Democrats. Clinton only got a quarter of liberals' backing in Iowa. Moderates, a somewhat smaller group among Democrats, split the same way. Romney had a slight edge over McCain among conservatives, who made up just over half of Tuesday's GOP voters. But McCain bested him 44 percent to 27 percent among moderates.

TELL US HOW YOU REALLY FEEL

Six in 10 Democrats said they are angry at the Bush administration. About one in seven Republicans said they feel the same way, and of that group, nearly four in 10 supported McCain and more than a quarter backed Texas Rep. Ron Paul. Only about one in 10 Republicans said they were enthusiastic about Bush.

THE KIDS

Obama had a nearly 2-to-1 lead over Clinton among under-30 Democratic voters. In Iowa, his margin in this group was more like four-to-one -- or more -- over Edwards and Obama. They were tied among people ages 30 to 45, and she led among those older. On the GOP side, McCain did best among the youngest and middle-aged Republican voters.

WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT

The economy was the top issue among Democrats, mentioned by nearly four in 10 voters, and they went for Clinton. Iraq was mentioned next, a group Obama led, followed by health care -- an issue Clinton has long emphasized -- which Obama and Clinton split.

The economy also was the dominant GOP issue, named by about one-third of voters. McCain led that group with about four in 10 of their votes. Iraq, illegal immigration and terrorism were next. Romney led among voters most concerned about immigration, getting more than half their votes, while McCain did best with the other two issues. Rudy Giuliani got less than one in five voters worried about terrorism, a disappointment on an issue he has emphasized.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Half of Republicans said illegal immigrants should be deported, and this group leaned toward Romney. Those saying they should be allowed to apply for citizenship, or preferring that they be allowed to stay as temporary workers, gave McCain an edge.

ANOTHER 9/11?

Eight in 10 Republicans, and slightly fewer Democrats, say they are worried about another terrorist attack in the U.S. Republicans expressing worry were split about evenly between McCain and Romney. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani got only about one in 10 of their votes -- a poor showing for a candidate who has made battling terrorism a premier issue. Obama and Clinton split the worried vote about evenly.

HARD TIMES

About a fifth of Republicans were worried about their personal finances, and they leaned toward McCain. About a quarter of Democrats have the same concern, and they leaned toward Clinton. About nine in 10 Democrats rated the economy negatively, compared to about half of Republicans.

NEWBIES

Nearly one in five Democrats said Tuesday was the first time they had voted in a primary. About half backed Obama, a third Clinton.

PICK ME A WINNER

Republicans viewed McCain as their most electable candidate, while Obama was the choice for Democrats.

THAT'S NOT FAIR

Romney was seen as having run the most negative GOP campaign, Clinton the most unfair Democratic one.

WHERE'S BILL?

More than one in three Democrats said they would have voted for Bill Clinton had he been on Tuesday's ballot. More than half of them are currently supporting his spouse.

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From samples in surveys in 50 precincts around New Hampshire on Tuesday for The Associated Press and television networks by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International. The surveys included 1,955 Democratic primary voters and 1,520 Republican primary voters. The sampling error margin was plus or minus 4 percentage points for both parties.