Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama and his Republican rival John McCain held tight to their political bases in North Carolina in an election dominated by the faltering economy, the AP reports.
An Associated Press exit poll showed Obama running well among liberals and moderates in North Carolina, while McCain was drawing very strong support from the state’s many conservatives.
The Illinois senator was winning support from voters under 30 and those making under $50,000 a year. McCain was running well with voters over 65 and those earning more than $50,000 a year.
Six in 10 voters said the economy was the most important issue facing the nation.
The survey of 2,731 North Carolina voters was conducted for AP by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International. Most were interviewed in a random sample of 60 precincts statewide Tuesday; 657 who voted early or absentee were interviewed by landline telephone over the last week.
