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.

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 Republican voters. But McCain bested him 44 per cent to 27 per cent 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 Ron Paul.

What they care about

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 healthcare, an issue Clinton has long emphasised, which Obama and Clinton split.

Economy also was the dominant Republican 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.

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 US Republicans expressing worry were split about evenly between McCain and Romney. Rudy Giuliani got only about one in 10 of their votes. Obama and Clinton split the worried vote about evenly.

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.

•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.