Exit Polls: Voters Seek 'Change' in Wisconsin

ANALYSIS by GARY LANGER

Preliminary exit poll results in the Wisconsin primaries underscore both differences and similarities between the two parties in the state.

Around nine in 10 voters, in both the Democratic and Republican contests, are white. But a substantial majority of Democratic voters are women, more than usual for a Wisconsin Democratic primary, while on the Republican side a substantial majority are men, considerably more than in most GOP primaries this year. (It'll take updated data to see if that comes out as a high for the cycle.)

In the Democratic race, nearly half the voters are liberals -- up from 2004.
Among Republican voters, six in 10 are conservatives. Both are in the mid-range for primaries this year.

The preliminary results also indicate that more seniors than usual are voting in the Democratic race -- up from their 2004 level, and also potentially a high for Democratic voters this cycle, though again it'll take final data later tonight to see that holds.

As in previous contests, the top issue for Democrats and Republicans alike is the economy -- around four in 10 call it the most important issue facing the country. (It's been considerably higher for Democrats in some other states.)

On candidate attributes, again as in the past, someone who can "bring about needed change" is tops by far for Democrats; among Republicans, as in previous primaries, it's someone who "shares my values."

Just over a third of GOP voters in these preliminary results identify themselves as evangelical Christians, about the norm for a non-Southern state this year.

Turnout by independents in the Republican race looks to be down from the last primary for which we have comparable data, in 1996.

In the Democratic contest, about four in 10 voters have college degrees -- another important factor in voting decisions this year. That's a bit under the norm in primaries so far.

In one further similarity, about one in 10 Democratic and Republican voters alike say they made their final decision today. At the other end of the spectrum, a third of Republicans, and nearly half of Democrats, say they decided more than a month ago.

Source: ABC news