Women move toward Hillary

Hillary Rodham Clinton defeated Barack Obama among women, 46 per cent to 34 per cent. Obama had edged her among women in Iowa. While Obama had a large advantage among New Hampshire men, women made up 57 per cent of the Democratic vote in New Hampshire. John Edwards trailed with both genders. Among Republicans, McCain had an edge among women.

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 per cent to 31 per cent. John McCain led Mitt Romney among Republicans, 40 per cent to 27 per cent.

This year’s buzzword...

... is change, 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 per cent. Twenty-eight per cent chose Clinton in New Hampshire, compared to 19 per cent of them who picked Clinton in Iowa.

What Republicans want

Republicans want their candidate to share their values. They also want someone 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 value experience.

Pious voters

Nearly a quarter of New Hampshire Republican 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, 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.

... contd.