Some exit poll results from Louisiana:
RACE — The vast majority of black voters in Louisiana pushed the button for Barack Obama, with more crossover among white voters. But seven in 10 voters said race was either a minor issue or had nothing to do with their choice. And, though the results were a bit more extreme, the racial split among Democrats and Republicans was strikingly similar to those in the 2004 and 2000 elections.
MODERATION — Only about two in 10 Louisiana voters consider themselves liberal, with the rest split evenly between those who see themselves as moderate or conservative. Obama and Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu both had strong majorities among liberals. But Landrieu won over six in 10 voters who see themselves as moderates, compared to about half for Obama. She also had a few more conservative voters than Obama, and won a third term.
EARLY DECISIONS — Few people waited until the last week to decide whether they would vote for McCain or Obama, and seven in 10 said their minds were made up before September.
MONEY MATTERS — About half of Louisiana’s voters said the economy was the most important issue facing the nation. Those voters split fairly evenly between McCain and Obama. None of four other issues came close.
MONEY MATTERS 2 — Obama led among voters earning less than $50,000 a year; those making at least $50,000 a year went for McCain.
WHAT COUNTED — Asked which quality mattered most in their presidential choice, about three in 10 voters chose someone who shared their values, and about the same proportion said they wanted someone who could bring change. Experience was the third choice, and “Someone who cares about people like me” a distant fourth.
RELIGION — Catholics made up about three in 10 voters, and went strongly for McCain. Landrieu and Republican John Kennedy split the Catholic vote.
——Contact The Daily Reveille news staff at [email protected]