- here are some highlights from NH primary. --msnbc
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Gender
-- Women voters predominated in Democratic contest.
-- Men predominated in Republican primary.
Hillary Rodham Clinton had a clear lead among women, getting nearly half their vote. Barack Obama had about as strong an advantage over Clinton among men. Women made up more than half of voters in the Democratic contest.
Among Republicans, John McCain had a slight edge among both sexes.
Ideology
-- Just over half of those voting Republican called themselves conservative.
-- About as many voting Democratic called themselves liberal.
Independent voters
-- More independents voted in Democratic primary than in Republican.
-- Independents in New Hampshire can vote in either contest.
These voters comprised about four in 10 voters in each party’s primary Tuesday. Barack Obama had nearly half their support to lead Democrats, while John McCain led Republicans with more than a third of their backing. The two men also did 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.
Timing of decision
-- Nearly half of voters say they decided in past week whom to support.
Feelings about candidates
-- Eight in 10 voting Democratic strongly favor their candidate.
-- Two-thirds of those voting Republican feel strongly about their choice.
More than half of Democrats said they were looking for a candidate who could change politics. As in Iowa, Obama got the biggest part of that group, more than half. One in five Democrats said they wanted a candidate with experience, a group Clinton was carrying overwhelmingly. Clinton and Edwards were tied among those seeking an empathetic candidate.
The top qualities Republicans were seeking in a candidate was one who shares their values, and one who is authentic. Romney was the big leader among those naming values, McCain among those seeking a candidate who says what he believes. McCain had a slight edge with those who most value experience.
Feelings about President Bush
-- Democratic primary voters much more negative than Republican voters positive.
-- Fully two-thirds of those voting Democratic angry with Bush administration.
-- Fewer than 10 percent of those voting Republican enthusiastic for Bush.
-- 40 percent of those voting Republican satisfied with administration.
Young voters
-- Obama had more than a 2-to-1 lead over Clinton among under-30 Democratic voters, and a healthy lead among those under age 45. Clinton did better among those who are older.
-- Romney, McCain and Paul were about evenly splitting the youngest voters, while McCain and Romney battled for the lead among the oldest.
Most electable
-- Republicans viewed McCain as their most electable candidate.
-- Obama was the choice for Democrats.
Negative campaigns
-- Romney was seen as having run the most negative GOP campaign.
-- Clinton was seen as having the most negative Democratic one.
Issues
About one-third of Democrats named the economy and Iraq as the top issues facing the country, followed by health care. Voters naming the economy were split about evenly between Obama and Clinton, but Obama led among those naming the other two issues. That’s a disappointment for Clinton, who has made health care a signature issue for years.
Republicans were split roughly evenly in naming the economy and Iraq as the nation’s top issue, with illegal immigration and terrorism close too. Romney had a big lead among those naming immigration, while McCain led on the other issues.
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.
Bill Clinton for president?
-- One in three Democrats said they would have voted for Bill Clinton had he been on Tuesday’s ballot. Half of them are currently supporting his spouse.
Iraq war
-- Democratic primary voters were pretty evenly split.
-- Half want withdrawal as soon as possible, half want timetable.
-- A third of Republican primary voters strongly approve of Iraq war.
-- At least another third somewhat approve.
Religion
-- About a fifth of New Hampshire GOP voters said they were born again or evangelical voters, compared to six in 10 in last week’s Iowa Republican caucuses.
Huckabee had roughly a third of the support of evangelicals on Tuesday, giving him a slight edge over McCain and Romney. Among those who said they were not evangelical or born again, McCain led with roughly four in 10 of them. That gave him a slight edge over Romney and a big one over Huckabee, who was supported by less than one in 10. McCain was leading Romney with those who said it mattered that their candidate share their religious beliefs. Romney’s Mormonism has alienated some voters, previous polls have showed.
Party wings
-- Obama had a slight lead over Clinton and a large one over Edwards among liberals, who comprised more than half of Democrats. Obama had a larger advantage among moderates.
-- Romney had a slight edge over McCain among conservatives, who made up just over half of Tuesday’s GOP voters. But McCain had an almost 2-to-1 lead among moderates.
Worries
-- 75 percent of Democratic primary voters fear another major terrorist attack.
-- Virtually all those voting Democratic worry about direction of economy.
-- Republican primary voters bit more worried about terrorism, less about economy.
-- 90 percent of Democratic primary voters think economy not so good, or poor.
-- Republican primary voters split between positive/negative views of economy.
Primaries too soon?
-- About 40 percent of voters in each contest think the primaries were too early this year.
LM