Massachusetts: Romney, Clinton win
BOSTON The New York senator relied on state lawmakers, who cranked up
their get-out-the-vote efforts on Super Tuesday to offset Obama's
headline-grabbing endorsements from Sen. Edward Kennedy and Gov.
Deval Patrick.
Romney, criticized for treating Massachusetts as a stepping
stone to higher office while governor, won his home state by
finding favor with voters who support him on immigration and the
economy, according to exit polls conducted for The Associated
Press.
"It's touching to have folks remember us fondly," Romney said
after voting Tuesday in Belmont.
The Associated Press made the calls based on surveys of voters
as they left the polls.
Republican Mary Jordan of Topsfield said she didn't decide to
vote for Romney until she entered the voting booth.
"I think he's the least unlikeable. I really didn't like any of
them," Jordan, a 43-year-old teacher's aide, said of a GOP field
that also included former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Exit poll results showed that close to half of all voters in
both parties cited the economy as the most important challenge
facing the nation. For Democratic voters, the war in Iraq placed a
close second. For Republican voters, immigration placed second.
Kennedy summoned memories of his brother the slain president
when he endorsed Obama a week ago, and Patrick campaigned hard for
his fellow Chicagoan.
Clinton was bolstered by support among rank-and-file state
lawmakers, as well as Senate President Therese Murray, who has
suggested Clinton lost key endorsements in part because she's a
woman.
John Stephen Dwyer, a 40-year-old education coordinator from
Boston, said he voted for Obama.
"I like his optimism," Dwyer said. "I like his boldness on
environmental issues I like his consistency in not supporting our
military action overseas."
Bob Poland, 49, said he chose Clinton based on her experience.
"Obama seems like a nice guy, but I'm just worried he doesn't
have enough experience to be president," said Poland, a travel
agent who also cited Clinton's stance on health care and economic
issues.
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Associated Press writers Jay Lindsay in Topsfield, Denise Lavoie
in Whitman, Melissa Trujillo in Boston, Pat Eaton-Robb in
Longmeadow, and Glen Johnson in Belmont contributed to this report.