Sorting Out New York
The CBS News Exit Poll takes a closer look at the hows and whys of the Empire State's primary.
GOP: Who Liked Whosize>color>
In voting for delegates, the Exit Poll found New York voters divided between Bush and John McCain in multiple ways. The candidates were equally well-liked, and equally regarded on character issues by New York's Republican primary electorate.
New York looked much like earlier primary contests in terms of who supported whom. Bush's core supporters in New York were self-described Republicans, and conservatives - he won 57 percent and 58 percent of each group respectively. McCain's won among voters who considered themselves independent or Democratic, as well as liberals and moderates who, combined, made up roughly half of the electorate.
Religion & The Republican Vote
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While McCain tried to make religion an issue in the Republican race, voters in New York did not respond as he might have hoped. Despite Bush's controversial visit to Bob Jones University in South Carolina, Catholic voters chose him over McCain: 52 percent to 43 percent respectively.
In addition, McCain's attack on religious right leaders Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson did him more harm than good. Thirty-eight percent of voters said that McCain's attacks on the religious right affected their vote. Among these voters, Bush beat McCain by about three to one. Only 15 percent of New York's GOP primary voters said they associated themselves with the Christian right, but they went heavily for Bush - 68 percent to 25 percent.
McCain's November Appeal
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The one surprise from New York was that McCain continued to show general election strength that Bush can't match, even among New York's restricted primary electorate. Only about half of McCain's New York supporters said they would support Bush in the general election, despite the fact that all are registered Republicans. In contrast, 67 percent of Bush's voters would support McCain in November if he were the nominee.
Democrats Go, Go, Go For Gore
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Gore cruised to victory over Bradley thanks to widespread support among nearly all voter groups. Bradley bested Gore only among self-described independents, who made up only 18 percent of the electorate.
New York voters liked Bill Bradley, their former Knicks star and Senator from next door neighbor New Jersey, but in the end, they just liked Gore better. Sixty-six percent of voters said they viewed Bradley favorably, but 81 percent had a favorable view of Gore. As just a hint of Bradley's problems catching fire with the electorate: even among those who view him favorably, 50 percent chose to support Gore.
Much of Gore's support came from voters who approve othe job President Clinton is doing. Eighty-five percent of New York's Democratic primary voters said they approve of the job Clinton has been doing as President, and over two-thirds of them voted for Gore.
The only cloud on Gore's horizon came from Bradley supporters, many of whom said they would choose McCain over Gore in a general election match-up between the two. Roughly four in ten Bradley supporters said they would support McCain in the general election, rather than Gore, if McCain were the nominee.
The CBS News Exit Poll was conducted among 1,698 Democratic primary voters and 1,432 Republican voters as they left the polls.