Election-Campaign Law

"Early Pennsylvania Exit Poll Results"

By Michael Alvarez

Highlights of preliminary exit poll data in the Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary Tuesday:
PARTY-SWITCHERS
One in 10 voters changed their party registration since the start of the year so they could vote in the hotly contested primary, which was open only to registered Democrats. About half of the party-switchers had been registered Republicans and the rest had been unaffiliated with either party. Another roughly 3 percent were voting for the first time in Pennsylvania.
VOTERS' DEMOGRAPHICS ...
As expected, the Pennsylvania Democratic electorate was overwhelmingly white, while a little more than half of voters were women. About three in 10 were age 65 or over. A quarter had household family income of more than $100,000 last year and about as many reported having a postgraduate degree.
Three in 10 Pennsylvania Democratic voters were union members or had one in their household. And four in 10 had a gun owner in their household.
... AND THE CANDIDATES' DEMOGRAPHICS
About one in five voters said the race of the candidates was among the top factors in their vote. About as many said that about the candidates' gender.
MAKING UP THEIR MINDS
One in five voters said they decided for whom to vote within the final week of the six-week Pennsylvania campaign. About one in 10 said they made up their mind Tuesday.
ECONOMIC GLOOM
As in earlier primaries, at least half of voters said the economy was the most important issue facing the country. About half as many said Iraq was the top issue. Health care trailed in importance.
Pennsylvania Democrats had a sour view of the economy ? four in 10 said the country is in a serious recession and at least as many called it a moderate recession. Only about one in 10 said the economy is not in recession.
From a partial sample of 1,421 Democratic primary voters conducted in 40 precincts across Pennsylvania by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International for The Associated Press and television networks.

Full post as published by Election Updates on April 22, 2008 (boomark / email).