February 19, 2008
Posted: February 19th, 2008 09:42 PM ET
McCain speaks to supporters at a rally in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
McCain speaks to supporters at a rally in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

(CNN) - Half of Wisconsin’s Republican primary voters who said they were very conservative cast their ballots for Mike Huckabee, according to early exit polls. But John McCain, who has been wooing that key GOP voting bloc, managed to pull in 40 percent of that group. Forty-nine percent of somewhat conservative Republicans went for McCain, as did 66 percent moderate voters followed suit.

Evangelical voters still flocked to Huckabee, a one-time Baptist minister.

Overall, McCain and Huckabee split the nearly two-thirds of Wisconsin Republicans who identified themselves as conservatives, with both candidates

taking 45 percent. Ron Paul, the only other Republican still in the race, drew 5 percent of the conservative vote and Mitt Romney – no longer an active candidate - drew 3 percent.

In Wisconsin, 76 percent of the GOP voters said they'd be satisfied if McCain is the GOP nominee. Forty-eight percent said McCain's positions were "about right," but 44 percent said he was "not conservative enough."

Filed under: Exit Polls • Wisconsin


val davydov, ma   February 20th, 2008 12:44 am ET

robert kilby,

you are NO CONSERVATIVE if you are even considering voting for Obama. Obama has got NOTHING in common with your conservative views you are claiming to hold. He is as liberal as he can be and he is not even hiding it.

jim   February 19th, 2008 11:55 pm ET

Huckabee is working for Clinton!!! Ask youself why is Huckabee still in this race? He has no chance of winning. That was established a long time ago, even before Super Tuesday. So why does he remain. Does anyone see a connection here between the agenda of Huckabee and the Clintons. Consider they both are from Arkansas, so it no stretch of the imagination to see they know the same people. At first Huckabee's presence kept the conservative vote split, thus costing Romney the front runner position and thus the winner take all primaries went to McCain. And now his continued presence in the race keeps the Repulican race un-decided, which right now would be exactly what Hillary needs, buying Hillary time to sort out the race with Obama.

So don't be fooled by all the spin talk.. Huck is there for Hillary.

Peter from Canad 4 Obama   February 19th, 2008 11:50 pm ET

Hillary doesn't have enough time as Obama, because all she said was I contibuted $5.miilion to support my campaign and I want you to visit my webside and dodnate.

She obviously asking for money not campaign speech.

For those fo you who want her to remain why don't donate to her campain?
She will waste them as she always does.
In Fact it is time you wirte a letter to beg her to step down.
Why will she waste all those money when lots of people are hungery , lots of children are starving, lots of fello Americans are homeless and she can afford to waste people's money.

She is losing her respect she can't win the nominee, so she should step aside folks.
Accept defeat with respect and stop wining about CNN airtime.

deborah   February 19th, 2008 11:31 pm ET

jan-Wake up!! Wake up!! George W. Bush is the Terrorist and he has waged war on the American people. I don't know who will win this election, but any change will be an improvement.

jan   February 19th, 2008 11:10 pm ET

Obama is attracting supporters who believe that he will deliver what he promises and by voting for him are entitled to whatever they ask for. And although he may be sincere, he will not be able to deliver on his promises because he has never accomplished anything in Washington and doesn't know how to do it. George Bush took over a Lose/Lose situation after 9/11. He was "dammed if he did and dammed if he didn't" go after terrorists, try to fix a failing educational system, equalize economic opportunity, etc., but he kept his promises despite being maligned by the press, and abandoned by the very people he was trying to protect. We have not been attacked again by terrorists and have a feeling of relative safety, the school system is improving despite all the belly-aching by do nothing educators, and we have lots of new tax breaks and incentives. Give the guy credit for delivering on these things and many more. But Obama will fail, even though he is sincere, because he is sincerely wrong.
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Martin Luther King, Jr.

We Can Do Better   February 19th, 2008 11:04 pm ET

Wow! What a lop-sided turnout between Dems and Repubs. I think Wisconsin is an auto win for Dems in General Election.

Frank   February 19th, 2008 11:01 pm ET

McCain the next POTUS?!? Only if Hilary is the nominee. And if that happens then we are really screwed either way. Lets hear it for 100 more years in Iraq!

Glenn   February 19th, 2008 10:57 pm ET

What most fail to realize is that none of these candidates can do anything they promise without the senate and congress!
So if you are only voting on what they promise ...you will end up sorely disappointed.
Campaign promises only give you an idea of their vision.
They should be part of your selection process but you should also consider integrity, qualifications, truthfulness, their ability to work with others of difering beliefs and their judgement in picking quality people to surround themselves with.

For me that person is John McCain!

Mike in NYC   February 19th, 2008 10:52 pm ET

Spatton says:

"This is the most dangerous man living today. Why you ask? Because he thinks hes God. When will people wake up. Very very scary!!!!!"

Apparently a lot of people without two brain cells to rub together think he's God, too.

joanna   February 19th, 2008 10:52 pm ET

Canadian neighborg,

Who in hell cares what canadians think! We haven't annexed you yet.

Mark from NC   February 19th, 2008 10:51 pm ET

The so-called conservative voters threatening to support Obama in the general election are beneath contempt. Seriously, you people sicken me. Obama is the ANTITHESIS of everything conservatism is supposed to be about:

Obama will institute a nanny state and expand government to a degree that we haven't seen the Great Society. He's promised to raise taxes thus exacerbating our economic problems. He'll declare failure in Iraq thus creating even greater havoc in the middle east. Finally, he'll appoint as many liberal judges as humanly possible – ensuring that several million more unborn babies die. Oh yeah, and he's promised to play kissy poo with the leader of every terrorist state out there. So WHY would any conservative vote for a dangerous socialist like Obama? Oh yeah. To teach the Republican party a lesson, right?
Is McCain the perfect conservative candidate? Hell no! (Can you say McCain Feingold?) But he sure as hell wouldn't drive our economy into a deeper recession from excess spending combined with tax increases. He wouldn't put our country at risk with a naive, pacifist foreign policy. And he wouldn't put the Right to Life movement back another 30 years. Those are ALL things that Obama has promised. So you conservatives disgust me. Obviously you care more about your movement than the country as a whole.

joanna   February 19th, 2008 10:50 pm ET

I used to think of CNN as moderate, fair and balanced in its political comments, but no more. CNN you have lost my respect , you are no better than Fox News. You have really sunk low in my estimation because you have given so much more free air time to Obama than you have to Clinton. I suppose, in your estimation, any candidate as long as he is a male is a better choice than the very best female
candidate.

Phil N   February 19th, 2008 10:44 pm ET

Has anybody checked Obama's record? Oh, that's right, he votes "present," therefore really does not have one to speak of. In terms of who can get things done, and create CHANGE, man I'm starting to hate that word, it would be McCain. He has a history of reaching across the aisle, whether it be with Russ Feingold, Ted Kennedy, or Joe Lieberman. I'm not crazy about his war position or some other positions; but here is a proven man, who has attempted to clean some things up, won't stand for corruption, will try to work with Dems, Republicans and Independents.

The cooling off period of 8 months between now and the general election will be beneficial to the American public. Perhaps some of you bloggers will spend a minute and stop drinking the Obama Kool-Aid and see if there is any sizzle to the steak.

I too, love to hear the man speak, but I'm not ready to make a leap of faith. See me again in 2016, when Obama has served two senate terms and perhaps has backed his words with some tangible accomplishments.

Neo-Cons – why do you insist that if you can't have your man, Mitt, or Mike, or Fred, you'll vote for Obama and just blow it all up? I just don't get it. Then again, I don't understand how anyone can be masochistic enough to spend their afternoons listening to Rush.

A Centrist in VA....

Chris   February 19th, 2008 10:44 pm ET

Huckabee is fast becoming a big joke. In not sure why CNN pundits make such a big deal of Huckabee who is a dead man walking. Most Republicans see him as driven by self interest at this point. I live in North Carolina, so my primary vote is meaningless, but even if I was considering Huckabee, I would vote for McCain even though he is not my first choice, because its time for Republicans to circle the wagons. Since Mike Huckabee insists on standing in the way, its time to give him a smack down. Its time for all Republicans to get behind McCain and focus in winning in November. Democrats are whiners and Republicans are winners. Huckabee is acting (yet again) like a Democrat. We can and must unite as soon as possible and march in lock step. Mr. Huckabee, be a part of the winning strategy, rather than being an anchor on the Party by deviding it.

Jeanne   February 19th, 2008 10:43 pm ET

It's very disappointing for the Nebraska voters that don't even get to have a say on the republican nomination. I did everything i could from a distance by making phone calls to Maryland, Virginia, Kansas, etc... since I don't get to vote this is the only way I can influence the people that get to. What a great country we live in. I'm glad that Michelle Obama is finally proud of this country for the first time in her life. I'm NOT!!!!

james   February 19th, 2008 10:40 pm ET

Here's an interesting fact Obama won more than twice as much votes as McCain, and Hillary won about twice as much votes as McCain. So who's the real loser here, McCain.

Rich   February 19th, 2008 10:37 pm ET

I don't think your GOP poll is too accurate.
No one ever asked me if I would be happy to see McCain be the nominee, which I wouldn't, and I don't know anyone who would be.
I wonder... another fixed election?

I am happily dropping out of the GOP and I am sure their numbers will go down dramatically. McCain will lose in the end unless some more fixing is in the works.
In essence, the country will lose because it fails to wake up and smell freedom. rEVOLution is upon you.

joanna   February 19th, 2008 10:32 pm ET

I am voting for McCain if Obama is chosen as the Democrat's candidate, I want an experienced politician to run this country not a no substance-inexperieced-empty-words-half-baked-politician. McCain wil trounce the pants off Obama. But Hillary is still my favorite candidate.

Hurrah for Hillary!

cajun joe   February 19th, 2008 10:30 pm ET

Go pollute articles about obama and clinton with your stupid comments. This is about McCain, the next President of the United States.

Brian   February 19th, 2008 10:29 pm ET

"The Republicans threatening to vote for Obama if McCain is the nominee don't realize what that means. Obama will have a near-socialist agenda… big government, more involvement of government in your life. on foreign policy he may be pacifist to the extent of Jimmy Carter. Not a choice a conservative can really make."

ummm isn't Bush the one spying on THE PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES and breaking the Constitution?

give the people of this country back their freedom!

J Morris   February 19th, 2008 10:28 pm ET

Jeeps...McCain is a nice guy... though I've heard has a "bad temperment" What does that mean to a guy with a red phone in his hand? Duh... war, war and more war... but I SAY UNTO YOU...Hammer your weapons into farming tools. We need to eat in the future... We can't eat oil... and we need solutions for breathing in the future... Hello... who is the candidate that is promoting sustainable energy... that is the candidate for me! Who realizes the need for self-sufficiency in a dangerous world, that is the candidate for me... Who cares about the earth that my grandchildren will inherit...that is the candidate for me.

JOHN   February 19th, 2008 10:26 pm ET

STOP CRYING ABOUT HILLARYS SPEECH, REMEMBER SPEECH'S DONT MATTER AND TALK IS CHEAP.

spatton   February 19th, 2008 10:25 pm ET

I have been listening to Obama ramble on now forever. This is the most dangerous man living today. Why you ask? Because he thinks hes God. When will people wake up. Very very scary!!!!!

JOHN   February 19th, 2008 10:24 pm ET

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, WHAAAAAAAAAAA, WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, I HAVE ONE THING TO ASK? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME HILLARY WON A STATE, A CITY, A TOWN, A BLOCK, A HOUSE?

Frank   February 19th, 2008 10:22 pm ET

Give Clinton 500 bucks?!? BWAHAHAHAHHAAH!

One has to be a real sucker to do something so inane as that.

No more Clintons OR Bushes. No more perpetuation of powerful dynasties, thank you. They have never been, and never will be a good thing for our Republic.

Raponikoff   February 19th, 2008 10:20 pm ET

I loved the fact that Mrs. Clinton was cut off, when a person doesn't have the decency to concede and instead shovels same stale, hopeless slander, the less heard the better! If Clinton can't think of anything better to run on then the character of Obama's speeches than she needs to bow out and let the process of unifying this party begin. I notice the Redubs aren't waiting...

fair tax in la.   February 19th, 2008 10:17 pm ET

GOD BLESS McCAIN!!

Anonymous   February 19th, 2008 10:16 pm ET

Nathan, maybe Obama was thinking he had to stop her before she got another chance to sling mud at him because she'll do anything to win (Ms. "I'm in it to win."; she realized quickly that selfish statement was not a smart one to make any longer) and damage the party's chances even more come November?

I mean, her opening statements thanking WI and the voters that supported her in this tough competition. Oh wait...she never said anything like that. Of course, unless she was saving it for the ending that got cut off there.

Anonymous   February 19th, 2008 10:15 pm ET

Nathan, maybe Obama was thinking he had to stop her before she got another chance to sling mud at him because she'll do anything to win (Ms. "I'm in it to win."; she realized quickly that selfish statement was not a smart one to make any longer) and damage the party's chances even more come November?

I mean, her opening statements thanking WI and the voters that supported her in this tough competition. Oh wait...she never said anything like that. Of course, unless she was saving it for the ending that got cut off there.

Dee   February 19th, 2008 10:14 pm ET

Hey CNN, what is going on with the moderation here: This blog does not belong to Nathan!

Hilary supporters can donate all you want. With all the whinning going on, I wonder who the toddler is?

Orenn Greene   February 19th, 2008 10:14 pm ET

Why does Obama have more time to speak than Clinton. I would like to have heard all of what she had to say. She does not have the same television time as Obama. Obama will not make a good president. The Repubicans will win before Obama.

Robert   February 19th, 2008 10:13 pm ET

The Republicans threatening to vote for Obama if McCain is the nominee don't realize what that means. Obama will have a near-socialist agenda... big government, more involvement of government in your life. on foreign policy he may be pacifist to the extent of Jimmy Carter. Not a choice a conservative can really make.

This splitting of the vote, aided and abetted by commentators who call themselves conservatives, is the dream scenario for the Democrats and will yield an extreme liberal if not leftist White House.

Obama and Hillary are celebrating every time these so-called conservative talk show hosts go on the air to tear down McCain.

I hope conservative voters will stop submissively following the Limbaughs and the Coulters like sheep....and look at the harm they may be doing to the country by throwing their vote to an ideologically socialist Democrat.

John   February 19th, 2008 10:13 pm ET

Obama/Bayh, the midwestern guys!
McCain and Mitt..... Awww........

VP   February 19th, 2008 10:13 pm ET

Nathan.... keep trying

D.J. & Maria   February 19th, 2008 10:12 pm ET

You know if Sen Clinton recieved as much positive exposure as Obama does she'd be doing much better. Obama is a rock star and his speeches move people as in CHURCH on a sunday morning! The media is making sure of the Democratic nomination....I watch CNN 24hrs a day. I heard the PUNDITS say if the super delegates or Michigan or Floida come into play there will be a fractured Democratic Party and the Democrats will be no more! So the only election that matters is if Obama wins! How is that an Election?

Gavin   February 19th, 2008 10:12 pm ET

CNN NEEDS TO RE-AIR SENATOR CLINTONS' SPEECH

IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS OF BOTH OBAMA & CNN TO INTERRUPT HER SPEECH.

SHE IS *barely* BEHIND – MY GOODNESS (THIS RACE IS *NOT* OVER)....

WHEN OBAMA WAS BEHIND, HE WAS NOT TREATED LIKE THIS.

RE-AIR CLINTONS SPEECH IN ITS ENTIRETY!!!!!!!!!!!

CLINTON 08

Vicki King   February 19th, 2008 10:11 pm ET

Three times tonight, Feb. 19th, 2008, twice by Anderson Cooper and once by Wolf Blitz in less than two hours quoted Michele Obama as saying from a speech that she made in Wisconsin a day ago. What I heard her say from your tape of her speaking she said, "It is the first time in her adult life that she was REALLY proud of America or proud to be an American. But the key word here is REALLY, and tonight when your news anchor s stated above misquoted her as saying that it was the first time in her life that she was proud to be an American. Why was the really left off of their quote of what she said, i think that is a misquote and a very manipulative one on their part to misgrue not only to the American people watching CNN tonight but people around the world, perhaps the woman's real meaning was that just maybe she was really proud to be an american now because maybe the way the whole country is embracing her husband, a black american running for President in the united states if we as Americans care to stop defining people according their race. And that maybe its the first time in history Americans have stepped outside the race issue and supported a man who inspires them and offers hope and common sense leadership in the future. Well, I will say it to because not only to I feel it, I am white woman, college and as a small girl growning up in the 60's am really proud to be an American today and embrace Senator Obama and support him because he is the only one who I hear who speaks the truth and it is a sincere truth. As I work in the legal profession, I know how important slight changes such as leaving out important words someone spoke changes the whole meaning of a quote. I will say it also if you would like to quote me, Its the first time in a long time that I have Really, Really been proud to be an American in this political campaign not that I have not ever been proud of America and I am really proud of other Americans who are embracing Senator Obama for his merit and deserving appreciation for what he stands for to the American people and not dismissing him because of his race. And, you might tell your news anchorman that they might in the future quote exactly what Michele Obama was saying and not leave off a word such as really that changes the whole meaning of her sentence from what they cared to quote to the world tonight. And, you might throw in an apology to her, also. Thank you.
Vicki King
Charleston, South Carolina

Canadian Neighbour   February 19th, 2008 10:05 pm ET

To: All Hillary Supporters

"Obama is simply the best, better than all the rest"

Nathan   February 19th, 2008 10:02 pm ET

I just got out my credit card and gave Clinton 500 bucks. I can't bare to see her be treated so badly or live to see the day when I actually agree that women have it harder than men! Everyone out there should do the same.

Nathan   February 19th, 2008 9:57 pm ET

REBROADCAST HILLARYS SPEECH! SUCH ARROGANCE ON OBAMMA'S PART!

robert kilby   February 19th, 2008 9:56 pm ET

people keep telling huckabee to drop out of the race. I believe he needs to stay in the race and find out to the end who is really going to vote for McCain in the Nov. election. I for one have been a registered republican all my life but wil be voting for Obama in the fall elections if McCain wins. and i urge all other conservative voters to do likewise.

Nathan   February 19th, 2008 9:54 pm ET

How dare Barak cut off Hillary Clinton! It's sure that he knew she was still speaking. Obama is an arrogant toddler who can't even let tonight's loser get her five minutes on the air. It made him look petty and childish. I turned off CNN when he came on. Hopefully you will rebroadcast Clinton's speech in full. If I have to listen to Obama empty promises, at least let me listen to Hillary!

edwin   February 19th, 2008 9:52 pm ET

Here is what I don't understand if everybody of course at least almost everybody is always saying that president w, bush is a bad president he messed up the economy he sent our soldiers to Iraq the list goes on and on. here is the question then why is maccain so successful in these campaign while we know that if he becomes the commander in chief his policies are no different from bush's policies which has not being very successful as we know. the fact is if Maccain becomes the next president that only means majority of the voters left there brains under their pillow before going to vote and it only proves that president Bush's policies where not bad after all.

Maria   February 19th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

I never thought I would see the day that CNN cuts off speeches from canidates, just because they won.... I am very disappointed that the coverage or I should say lack of for some canidates and an overabundce for another. I guess it looks like the media is picking our canidate for us, just like the justice dept. decded our President in 2000...... From a dedicated viewer

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

twitter
hambypCNN: @DanDoranBlum nice. hopefully you get two big wins over Pitt in one week.
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:42:32 -0800
hambypCNN: @AP_Ken_Thomas excellent duane spencer reference. let's try to work in lee scruggs, too, before the season ends.
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:14:50 -0800
@wolfblitzercnn: Shocking - what's happening in Baghdad. Five terror attacks. More than 100 killed and 400 injured amid fears the violence will increase.
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:08:29 -0800
hambypCNN: Kaine vs. Steele on Situation Room today in 6P hour.
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:55:02 -0800
@edhenrycnn: My colleague Dan Lothian and I show what's it's like on the road with the President - http://bit.ly/7XSU53 #cnn
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:09:21 -0800
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP