TOPICS: Exit polls in New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections

Full results for New Jersey (pdf)

Full results for Virginia (pdf)

(CNN) – Independents appear to be playing an important role in the country's two off-year gubernatorial races and in both states, and they are voting Republican.

In Virginia, where 30 percent of voters identify themselves as independent, 65 percent cast their ballots for CNN's projected winner, Republican Bob McDonnell. That's according to early CNN Exit Poll data. Democrat Creigh Deeds earned the votes of 34 percent of independents.

In New Jersey, the projected winner, Republican Chris Christie, took 60 percent of the independent vote while incumbent Governor Jon Corzine, a Democrat, got only 30 percent. The candidate running as an official Independent, Chris Daggett, got just 9 percent of the independent vote. Independents made up 28 percent of the voters in New Jersey race.

Updated 10:42 pm ET

(CNN) – Independents appear to be playing an important role in the country's two off-year gubernatorial races and in both states, and they are voting Republican.

In Virginia, where 30 percent of voters identify themselves as independent, 65 percent cast their ballots for CNN's projected winner, Republican Bob McDonnell. That's according to early CNN Exit Poll data. Democrat Creigh Deeds earned the votes of 34 percent of independents.

In New Jersey, the projected winner, Republican Chris Christie, took 60 percent of the independent vote while incumbent Governor Jon Corzine, a Democrat, got only 30 percent. The candidate running as an official Independent, Chris Daggett, got just 9 percent of the independent vote. Independents made up 28 percent of the voters in New Jersey race.

Updated 10:42pm ET

(CNN) - What was on the minds of New Jersey voters as they voted for governor Tuesday?

More than a third of voters - 39 percent - said the quality they were looking for most in a candidate was the ability to bring change, and most of them said they had voted for the Republican Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor, who CNN projects won the race. That's according to early CNN Exit Poll data.

32 percent of voters said the economy and jobs was the most important issue. Most of these voters said they voted for Democratic incumbent Governor Jon Corzine. Property taxes were the most important issue for 26 percent of voters. They voted in large part for Christie.

Updated 10:38pm ET

Exit polls: Voters divided on President Obama's performance.

(CNN) - Tuesday's two races for governor offer a snapshot on how Americans feel President Obama is handling his job.

Virginia voters are essentially split, according to early CNN Exit Poll data, with 50 percent of voters saying they do not approve of the way President Obama is doing his job. 94 percent of those respondents voted for Republican Bob McDonnell, CNN's projected winner. 49 percent of Virginia voters approve of Pres. Obama's performance and the majority of them (80 percent) voted for Democrat Creigh Deeds. President Obama won the state last year, the first time a Democratic presidential candidate won Virginia since 1964.

In New Jersey, 58 percent of voters approve of the president's performance. Incumbent Jon Corzine, a Democrat, captured three-quarters of those voters. 41 percent disapprove and 88 percent of those voted for Republican Chris Christie. Independent candidate Chris Daggett captured a small percentage of voters on both sides of the divide.

(CNN) – On Tuesday, 61 percent of men voted for Republican Bob McDonnell, CNN's projected winner in the race for governor of Virginia. Democrat Creigh Deeds got just 38 percent of the male vote, according to early CNN Exit Poll data. McDonnell also had an edge among women with 53 percent telling pollsters they voted for the Republican.

Deeds, who comes from rural Bath County, captured 56 percent of the urban vote... while McDonnell took 55 percent of the suburban vote and 69 percent of the rural vote.

(CNN) - As voters went to the polls in Virginia Tuesday to elect a new governor, the economy was on their mind.

83 percent said they are very or somewhat worried about economic conditions, according to early CNN Exit Poll data. Those who are most worried voted overwhelmingly for Republican Bob McDonnell, who CNN projects won the race. Another 11 percent said they are not too worried about the economy. Democrat Creigh Deeds captured most of that vote. Just three percent said they're not worried at all about the economy.

Almost half of the respondents said the economy and jobs was the most important issue. A quarter said health care was the most pressing issue.

More complete data will be released later in the evening.

Bob McDonnell is leading Creigh Deeds in Virginia's gubernatorial race (Photo credit: Getty Images)

(CNN) - Republican Bob McDonnell is leading Democrat Creigh Deeds in Virginia's gubernatorial race, according to CNN exit polls.

Palin argues against the president's health care proposals in a new Op-Ed.

(CNN) - Six in 10 New Jersey voters said Tuesday that President Obama had no effect on their vote in this off-year gubernatorial election, according to early CNN Exit Poll data.

Obama visited New Jersey this week to campaign for embattled Gov. Jon Corzine, who is locked in a tough re-election contest with Republican Chris Christie. When asked if Obama had an effect on their vote, 60 percent responded he was not a factor, 20 percent said their vote was meant to express opposition to him, and 19 percent said it was to support him.

More complete data will be released later in the evening. Polls close in New Jersey at 8 p.m. ET.

Exit poll: Obama not a big factor in Virginia.

(CNN) - There's been plenty of talk by political pundits that Virginia's gubernatorial contest was a referendum on President Barack Obama, but voters don't agree, according to data from CNN exit polls of people voting Tuesday in that state's gubernatorial contest.

Fifty-five percent of Virgina voters polled say that Obama was not a factor in how they voted, with 24 percent suggesting that their vote was meant to express opposition to the president, and 18 percent indicating that their vote was meant to express support for Obama.

"What you are seeing is that the president's coattails didn't have a lot of durability from last year to this. He certainly pulled in Democrats last year when he was on top of the ticket," says CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley. "When he is not on top of the ticket, I think then it reverts to the person who actually is there and who they are voting on, so this is certainly a lesson for Democrats as to just how far the president's powers of persuasion can go. Whether or not he can translate that magic on to a different ticket, and I would say that's sort of not looking as though it does."

Exit poll: Economy concerns New Jersey voters most.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The economy was the most important issue on the minds of New Jersey voters Tuesday, early CNN Exit Poll data showed.

Nearly a third of the voters heading to the polls in this off-year election pitting Democratic Gov. John Corzine against Republican Chris Christie, 31 percent, said the economy was the most important issue, while 26 percent said property taxes, 20 percent indicated corruption and 18 percent identified health care.

Soaring property taxes and a high profile corruption sting that snared state and local officials have been important issues in this year's election.

More complete data will be released later in the evening. Polls close in New Jersey at 8 p.m. ET.

(CNN) - The economy and jobs are the number on issue on the minds of voters in Virginia, according to data from CNN exit polls Tuesday.

Forty-six percent of Virginian voting Tuesday, as Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds faced off for the governor's mansion, say that the economy and jobs are the most important issue to their vote. One in four indicate that health care reform is their most pressing issue, 14 percent said taxes were upmost on their minds, and 8 percent suggest that transportation woes were most pressing.

"The economy as the number one issue probably bodes well for the Republicans in Virginia," says CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley.

Those questioned in exit polls were asked their opinions after they voted, as they departed polling stations.

(CNN)– National exit polling shows 53 percent of of the voters considered the U.S. Supreme Court an "important factor" in their vote Tuesday. Fifty-two percent of these voters supported Barack Obama, while 46 percent supported John McCain.

National exit polling shows 18 percent of today's voters were aged 18-29. While that 's up sharply from this age group's 12 percent turnout for the 2006 election, its exactly the same as the percentage of 18-29 year olds as in the 2004 and 2000 presidential elections.

Seventeen percent of the voters in 1996 were 18-29 year olds and in 1992, the number was 21 percent. That means, if today's trend holds, candidate Bill Clinton will have turned-out a larger percentage of young voters in 1992 than Barack Obama did this year. In Ronald Reagan's re-election year of 1984, 24 percent of the voters were 18-29. When Jimmy Carter was elected in 1976, a full 29 percent of the voters were 18-29.

Among this year's 18-29 year olds, exit polling shows 66 percent voted for Obama and 31 percent for McCain

(CNN)–Exit polling shows ninety-five percent of today's voters in Michigan feel the national economy is "not so good" or "poor." They voted for Barak Obama by a margin of 60 percent to 37 percent. Only 4 percent of today's voters in Michigan think the national economy is in good shape. They went 79 percent for McCain. The "excellent" category for the national economy got a zero percent response in Michigan.

Eighty-eight percent of Michigan's voters said the job situation in their area is "worse today." They went for Obama 62 percent to 36 percent. Only 10 percent called it "about the same." Sixty-six percent of these Michigan voters cast ballots for McCain

(CNN) – Barack Obama can thank Colorado's Latino voters for his victory in the state.

White voters in Colorado - who made up 80 percent of the electorate - evenly split their votes between Barack Obama and John McCain, 49 percent each, exit polls from Tuesday's presidential race show.

But the Latinos, who made up 13 percent of the electorate, went 2-to-1 for Obama - 64 percent to 34 percent.

Men made up 48 percent of Colorado's electorate. Exit polling also showed them splitting evenly between McCain and Obama at 49 percent each. And women, who made up 52 percent of Colorado's voters, went for Obama by 56 percent to 42 percent.

Diane Padolsky flashes a thumbs-up to a passing motorist in rural Colorado.

(CNN) - White voters in Colorado - who made up 80 percent of the electorate - evenly split their votes between Barack Obama and John McCain, 49 percent each, exit polls from Tuesday's presidential race show. Latino voters made up 13 percent of the electorate, and they went 2-to-1 for Obama - 64 percent to 32 percent.

Men made up 48 percent of Colorado's electorate. Exit polling also shows them splitting evenly between McCain and Obama at 49 percent each. And women, who made up 52 percent of Colorado's voters, went for Obama by 56 percent to 42 percent.

Obama supporters react to news that he is the projected to be the next president.

(CNN) - American voters - who elected Barack Obama president tonight - made their choice with a mixture of excitement and tempered optimism. Among the electorate as a whole, 30 percent indicated they would be excited if Obama won the election while 24 percent said they would be optimistic but not excited. Reflective of the election results, only 14 percent said they would be excited if McCain were elected and 32 percent optimistic.

Negative feelings and expectations are also held toward both candidates. Twenty-five percent reported they would be scared if Obama were elected and 20 percent concerned but not scared. With respect to McCain, 28 percent said they would be scared and 25 percent concerned.

McCain-Palin signs line a row of homes in Philadelphia Tuesday.

John McCain lost Pennsylvania because his campaign strategy in the state did not play out as planned:

1) McCain counted on older voters; Obama carried voters 65-and-above by a 51 percent to 48 percent margin. (Nationally, only 44 percent of the 65-plus age group counted thus far reports voting for Obama.)

2) McCain counted on working class white voters. Obama won whites with incomes under under $50,000 by a 52 percent to 47 percent margin. (Nationally, Obama is carrying 48 percent of this group.)

3) McCain also counted on drawing Pennsylvania voters who supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. Obama won 81 percent of Pennsylvania Democrats who preferred Hillary Clinton in the primary (Nationally, the figure is 85 percent).

(CNN) – Among voters surveyed today, a bare majority - 51 percent - think the government should do more to solve problems. Forty-three percent believe the government is doing too much.

At the same time, early exit polling shows only a minority of voters - 40 percent - support the $700 billion government plan to assist failing financial companies. Fifty-six percent are opposed.

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA).

(CNN) – Remember the exit polls during the Bush-Kerry race?

Ask President Kerry how much faith we should put on exit polls.

Point: If the exit polls are as wrong this year as they were four years ago, we might expect to see a closer race in some battleground states than people suspect. May not be enough to turn the electoral map upside down, but stay tuned.

(CNN) - The first exit polls out Tuesday reflect what voters have said all along: The economy is by far the top issue on their minds.

Sixty-two percent of voters said the economy was the most important issue. Iraq was the most important for 10 percent, and terrorism and health care were each the top issue for 9 percent of voters.

The economy has dominated the last leg of the campaign trail as Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain have tried to convince voters that they are the best candidate to handle the financial crisis.

(CNN) - Hillary Clinton has made her vast experience a central theme of her campaign – and among those voters who said that was the top quality they were looking for in a presidential candidate, she was the undisputed choice in tonight’s exit polls: they chose her over Barack Obama by 93 to 7 percent in South Dakota, and 94 to 4 percent in Montana.

Barack Obama, meanwhile, has built his run around the need for change – and won large majorities of voters who said that was the most important quality in a potential commander-in-chief, beating Clinton by 67 to 33 percent among those voters in South Dakota, and 79 to 17 percent in Montana.

But even though they split tonight’s contests, it’s clear the advantage in this area was Obama’s: one in five voters in both states said experience was of paramount importance, but half of South Dakota’s voters, and 55 percent of Montana’s, said the ability to bring about change was essential in a candidate.

In Montana, voters who said having a president who cares about people was their priority split their votes almost evenly between the two candidates: Clinton had a 47 to 43 percent edge. But in South Dakota, which Clinton won, a significant majority of those voters – 60 percent – gave her the edge.

Former President Bill Clinton spent a lot of time in the state in the days leading up to Tuesday’s vote telling voters that his wife “cares about people like you.” It looks like that message sunk in.

(CNN) – South Dakota may have gone solidly for Hillary Clinton – but there’s a clue buried in the exit polls that suggests the healing process in the Democratic Party may already be underway.

A significant majority of voters – roughly seven in 10 – said both Democratic candidates were honest and trustworthy. It’s the final night of the primary season – but the first time that has happened since voting began in Iowa five months ago.

It may also be one sign that primary voters who did not support Barack Obama the first time around may be willing to believe the best about the Illinois senator heading into November.

55 percent of South Dakota democrats would like to see Clinton as Obama’s running mate.

(CNN) – The hard-fought Democratic primary race is winding down, but the veepstakes are just starting to heat up. Do voters in the year’s final contests think Barack Obama – just a handful of delegates away from claiming the party’s presidential nomination – should pick rival Hillary Clinton as his running mate?

South Dakota’s Democrats seem to like the idea; according to early exit polls, 55 of them think Clinton should be on the ticket this fall, while 41 percent do not.

But the state’s Obama voters give the idea a thumbs-down: 56 percent say Obama should not offer Clinton the vice presidential slot, versus 40 percent that do.

Montana’s Democratic primary voters are more divided: nearly half, 49 percent, think Clinton should join Obama on a joint ticket – but 45 percent do not.

Voters in the last two states, Montana and South Dakota, wrapped up the grueling coast-to-coast Democratic nominating marathon.

(CNN) - Two very white, working-class Western states. But look closer: there are some very real differences between the two sets of Democratic primary voters in tonight’s final primary contests.

South Dakota’s primary was closed, only registered Democrats were allowed to weigh in. But roughly one in three primary voters in Montana are independent – and that group is heavily supporting Barack Obama.

Hillary Clinton may have had an easier time winning over the party’s base - but Obama’s campaign will be counting on his ability to go toe-to-toe with John McCain over independent voters

(CNN) – The youngest and oldest voters in South Dakota’s Democratic primary overwhelmingly support their candidate – but as in many contests this primary season, both groups have landed on opposite sides of the Democratic divide, according to early exit polls.

The youngest voters, those aged 18-29, supported Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, 65 to 35 percent. Voters 65 and older had the exact same level of support for Clinton, voting for her 65-35 percent over Obama.

It’s a problem that’s plagued Obama all year: how to make his case to seniors, who have been critical to Democratic presidential hopes in past campaigns. Can he win them over by November?

It is still not clear whether Clinton supporters are likely to throw their support to Obama.

(CNN) - Will angry Hillary Clinton supporters take their disappointment out at the polls this November by voting for presumptive Republican nominee John McCain over Barack Obama, or staying home altogether?

Roughly three out of five Clinton’s South Dakota supporters said they’d vote for Obama this fall, in early exit polls. Sixteen percent said they’d vote for McCain; roughly the same number, 17 percent, said they’d stay home altogether.

Among all Democratic primary voters in South Dakota, 55 percent said the party had been energized by the long primary season; 39 percent said it had had the opposite effect.

The tough primary slog may have taken a toll on party unity – is it temporary, or will it cost Democrats dearly this fall? Time will tell.

UPDATE: One more quick note: Clinton’s Montana voters were even more leery of Obama - one in four said they’d vote for presumptive Republican nominee John McCain this fall. And just over half in both states said they were not pleased with the party’s evident presidential pick.

Obama has his work cut out for him – and the level of Hillary Clinton’s support for him will be the big variable in this election-year equation.

(CNN) - In South Dakota, domestic-minded Democratic primary voters had a different pick than their foreign-policy focused peers.

Voters who said their top concern was the state of the nation’s economy voted for Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama, 58 to 42 percent. But those who said the war in Iraq was their No. 1 concern supported Obama over Clinton by an even wider margin: 61-39 percent.

Obama’s early opposition to the Iraq war has made him the top pick for voters most worried about that conflict – but are international concerns taking a back seat to economic woes?

A woman casts her ballot in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

(CNN) - We've talked all season about Barack Obama's problem with those white working class voters, those blue collar voters. Is that problem persisting?

Yes, it is. South Dakota’s Democratic primary voters with no college degree voted as their peers in previous contests had: for Hillary Clinton over Obama, 60-40 percent. Meanwhile, well-educated, white collar voters continue to back the Illinois senator. Take a look at college graduates in the state: they voted for Obama, 53 to 47 percent.

The effort to win over these working-class voters is just beginning for Obama – and it looks like he has his work cut out for him.

Sen. Hillary Clinton greets patrons Sunday at a San Juan, Puerto Rico, bakery.

(CNN) - It was a clean sweep for Hillary Clinton in Puerto Rico in every demographic group, even those groups that are usually firmly in Barack Obama's camp.

The Illinois senator usually wins among males, young voters, those who attended college, and those with higher incomes.

But in the Puerto Rico primary, Clinton won 70 percent of the male vote, 65 percent of voters under 30, 70 percent of voters who attended college, and 66 percent of voters with an income of over $50,000.

Clinton also performed strongly among those demographic groups that have long constituted the backbone of her base.

She won 70 percent of female voters, 77 percent of those over 65, 69 percent who did not attend college, and 71 percent of voters with an income of $15,000 or less.

(CNN) – CNN has projected that Hillary Clinton will win big in Puerto Rico. Why did she do so well there?

Two of the key reasons are her strong performance among those voters who favor statehood for Puerto Rico and her husband's popularity on the island.

According to CNN's exit polls, 60 percent of Puerto Ricans who participated in the primary favor statehood, and Clinton won 82 percent of those voters. Neither Clinton or Barack Obama have directly said they favor statehood for the island, but Clinton said earlier this week she thinks Puerto Ricans should be able to vote in the general election.

Bill Clinton's overwhelming popularity in Puerto Rico also gave the New York senator a boost. Just over 80 percent said they had a favorable view of the former president, and those voters went for Clinton by a 56 point margin, 78 percent to 22 percent. (Among the 15 percent who hold an unfavorable opinion of Bill Clinton, 76 percent voted for Obama.)

(CNN) – Hillary Clinton appears to be benefiting from her extensive campaigning in Puerto Rico.

The New York Democrat spent 6 of the last 7 days campaigning on the island, while Barack Obama only made one visit to the territory. Among those Puerto Rican voters who decided in the last week, Clinton has a 31 point advantage, 67 percent to 33 percent.

The vast majority of Puerto Rican voters (78 percent) also said the candidates' personal visits to the island - a rarity in previous presidential contests – had a big impact on how they voted.

(CNN) - Bill Clinton is a very popular figure among voters in Puerto Rico's Democratic primary, CNN's exit polls show.

Just over 80 percent give the former president a favorable rating, while only 15 percent hold a negative view of him.

The majority of Puerto Rican voters hold an unfavorable view of his successor, President Bush - but to a much lesser extent than Democrats on the mainland. According to the exit polls, 59 percent say they aren't happy with President Bush, while 39 percent hold a favorable rating.

Among Democrats in the United States, Bush's disapproval rating is above 90 percent. Why is he more popular among Puerto Rican voters? He ended the very unpopular Navy bombing exercises on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques in 2003, after six decades of escalating local opposition.

(CNN) - Puerto Rican voters appear to hold views in line with Democrats on the mainland.

According to CNN's exit polls, voters on the island rank the state of the economy as their top concern, and they overwhelmingly disapprove of the war in Iraq.

Sixty percent say the economy is the top issue, and 82 percent say they disapprove of the war in Iraq. Those numbers are nearly identical to what Democrats on the mainland have said in previous primary contests.

(CNN) - A majority of Puerto Rican voters have strong ties to the U.S. mainland and particularly to New York, according to CNN's exit polls.

Nearly 60 percent said they've lived on the mainland at one time, and 78 percent reported having family members who lived in New York, a fact that clearly advantages Clinton.

Puerto Rican Dems are divided over statehood.

(CNN) - An issue unique to Puerto Rico appears to be dividing supporters of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama: whether the current U.S. territory should become a state or not.

Neither candidate has taken a direct position on the issue, though Puerto Rico's former governor, who has advocated statehood, supports Clinton.

According to CNN's exclusive exit polls, Clinton supporters there heavily back statehood for the commonwealth, while Obama's do not. Among Clinton supporters, 72 percent want it to be a U.S. state, 23 percent want it to remain a commonwealth, and 2 percent want it to be an independent country.

But among Obama supporters, 57 percent want Puerto Rico to stay a commonwealth while only 34 percent want it to be a U.S. state. Eight percent want it to be an independent country.

Clinton's supporters in Puerto Rico say they won't be happy if Obama wins the nomination.

(CNN) – Puerto Rican voters appear to be as divided as Democrats on the mainland, according to CNN's exclusive exit polls.

Among Hillary Clinton's supporters there, 72 percent said they would not be satisfied if Barack Obama wins the Democratic nomination, while only 26 percent said they would be.

Obama's supporters were slightly more willing to support Clinton, but not very. Nearly 60 percent said they would be dissatisfied if the New York Democrat won the nomination, while only 38 percent said they would be satisfied.

Puerto Ricans are not eligible to vote in the general election.

Clinton and Obama supporters both said Clinton attacked unfairly.

(CNN) - Even in a state Hillary Clinton appears to have won by 35 points, a majority of Kentucky voters say the New York senator attacked Barack Obama unfairly.

According to the exit polls, 54 percent of voters said Clinton launched unfair attacks on Obama, though that didn't seem to deter voters there from supporting Clinton - 55 percent of those who said Clinton attacked unfairly still voted for the New York senator.

Clinton faced a similar statistic in West Virginia last week. There she won by 41 points, but nearly 60 percent of voters said she made unfair attacks against the Illinois senator.

(CNN) – Two of three voters in Oregon's Democratic primary disagree with Hillary Clinton's call for a moratorium in the federal gasoline tax. Twenty-six percent of the voters in CNN's Oregon voter poll, conducted by phone, think suspending the gas tax is a good idea; they went for Clinton over Barack Obama 64 to 34 percent. Sixty-three percent think it's a bad idea to suspend the gas tax - those voters supported Obama 67 to 31 percent.

(CNN) – CNN just predicted Obama will win the Oregon primary. How did the Illinois senator win there so easily?

Obama won overwhelming support from Oregon voters who attended college. Nearly 60 percent of that demographic went for Obama there and those voters made up nearly 80 percent of the demographic.

Obama also won big in another category: among those voters who say they do not have a religion, or have another religion outside of Catholicism, Protestantism, and Judaism.

Nearly 30 percent of Oregon Democrats said they were not religious and those voters went for Obama by 21 percentage points, 60 percent to 39 percent. And among those voters who listed "other" as their religion, a group that made up 10 percent of the vote, Obama won by 42 points, 70 percent to 28 percent.

(CNN) - In another sign Barack Obama has trouble courting blue-collar voters, less than half of Kentucky Democrats said Tuesday that Barack Obama shares their values.

According to the exit polls, only 43 percent of voters there said Obama shares their values, a statistic that could potentially hurt him in the fall should he win the party's nomination.

That compares to 73 percent of Kentucky Democrats who said Hillary Clinton shares their values – a statistic the Clinton campaign often references when it claims the New York Democrat has a better chance of winning the crucial swing states in a general election.

The numbers were very similar in West Virginia last week. There only 43 percent said Obama shared their values while 70 percent said Clinton did.

Obama clearly has a long way to go in defining himself among these voters should he be the party's nominee.

(CNN) – Much has been made about both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's entrenched demographics, with each claiming crucial Democratic voting blocs. In primary after primary, it seems like the same coalitions vote for each candidate.

But exit polls out of Kentucky and Oregon Tuesday night show demographics are not necessarily destiny - geography and culture play a large role.

Consider white blue-collar voters, a demographic that is often considered to be Clinton's strongest. In Kentucky, she won 75 percent of these voters, while only 18 percent went for Obama. But in Oregon, exit polls show Clinton and Obama are essentially tied among this demographic: 50 percent supported Clinton, and 47 percent voted for Obama.

And consider voters under 30 - a demographic that usually votes overwhelmingly for Obama. In Oregon he carried these voters by 40 points over Clinton. But in Kentucky, Clinton beat Obama in that demographic by 16 points.

(CNN) - If Barack Obama wins the Democratic nomination, should he pick Hillary Clinton as his running mate?

Roughly 54 percent of Democratic voters in Kentucky said yes - but supporters of both candidates are sharply divided on whether the New York senator should get the No. 2 spot.

Among Clinton voters in Kentucky, 64 percent said she should be the vice presidential candidate, while 33 percent said she should not.

But Obama supporters are much more against the idea of Clinton claiming the vice presidential slot on the ticket with Obama. Close to 60 percent of them say the Illinois senator should not pick Clinton as his running mate, while only 38 percent think he should.

It's yet another issue where Clinton and Obama supporters are sharply divided.

Were voters swayed by Edwards' decision to back Obama?

(CNN) – Is John Edwards' recent endorsement of Barack Obama important? Forty-five percent of the voters in today's Kentucky's Democratic primary think so. But exit polls show they split their vote: 48 percent voted for Obama, and 47 percent for Clinton.

Fifty-two percent of today's voters in Kentucky say Edwards' endorsement of Obama was not important. They went overwhelmingly for Clinton: 81 to 14 percent.

(CNN) - In another sign of the challenge facing Obama among Democratic voters in blue-collar states like Kentucky, only 41 percent of them there said they would be satisfied if he wins the party's nomination.

Among Clinton supporters, the number is even more daunting for Obama: Only 33 percent said they'd be satisfied if the Illinois senator is the nominee.

That compares to 76 percent of Democrats in Kentucky who'd be satisfied if Clinton wins the nomination.

With less than six months until the general election, the Democratic Party has a lot of healing to do.

(CNN) - CNN has just predicted a wide margin of victory for Hillary Clinton in Kentucky. How did she win so overwhelmingly there?

The exit polls point to three reasons: Her support among white voters, her support among rural voters, and Barack Obama's controversial formal pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Among whites in Kentucky, who made up 9 in 10 voters, Clinton won 71 percent of the vote while Obama only won 22 percent.

Rural voters also voted overwhelmingly for Clinton. Those voters made up 45 percent of the electorate and nearly 80 percent of them went for Clinton. Among suburban voters, who made up 30 percent of the vote, Clinton won by a narrower 18 point margin. Meanwhile Obama carried urban voters by 18 points, but those voters only made up a little more than 10 percent of the electorate.

There is also evidence Obama's former pastor continues to haunt him. Nearly 55 percent of Democratic voters said Obama shares the most controversial views of Wright and those voters went for Clinton 84 percent to 9 percent over Obama. Among the 44 percent of Kentucky voters who said Obama does not share Wright's views, 51 percent voted for the Illinois senator while 43 percent went for Clinton.

(CNN) - Early exit polling from Kentucky shows the magnitude of Hillary Clinton’s victory there. Clinton won among men 62 to 32 percent. She won among women 67 to 27 percent.

She won in all age groups: 55 to 39 percent among voters between 17 and 29 years old; 61 to 35 percent among voters aged 30-44; 65 to 28 percent among voters 45-64 and 77 to 18 percent among voters 65 and older.

Clinton also won among all income groups: 67 to 28 percent among voters who make less than $50,000 a year and 63 to 31 percent among voters who make $50,000 a year or more.

Clinton won among people of all education levels: 74 to 21 percent among Kentucky Democratic voters who have no college education and 60 to 34 percent among college-educated voters.

Eighty-nine percent of today's voters in Kentucky are white. Among them, Clinton won 72 to 22 percent. Nine percent of today's voters in the state are African-American; they went overwhelmingly for Barack Obama, 87 to 7 percent.

(CNN) - Relatively few voters in Kentucky waited until the last minute to decide which Democratic presidential candidate to support. Early exit polls in Kentucky show 14 percent of today's voters decided in the last week - 85 percent had already made up their minds.

(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)

(CNN) – Just how different are Kentucky Democrats from Oregon Democrats?

Very.

Consider two factors: political ideology and religion.

In Kentucky, only 35 percent of Democratic voters described themselves as “liberal.” The rest said they were either moderate or conservative. Compare that to Oregon, where close to 60 percent of Democratic voters said they were liberal, and about 40 percent said they were moderate or conservative.

There are also big differences between voters in both states when it comes to religion.

In Kentucky, only 7 percent of Democrats reported having no religion, while nearly 30 percent of Democrats in Oregon said they were not religious.

Could these cultural differences point to different overall results in both states? We’ll see.