The early exit polls

Posted: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 7:47 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2008, Florida, Norah O'Donnell

From MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell and Adam Verdugo
So far we know three things about the Republican primary in the Sunshine State: it's a very conservative electorate, the economy is the No. 1 issue and voters are pessimistic about it.

In a state that has been battered by the housing crisis and the high costs of oil and gas, these numbers should come as no surprise: Economy 47%, Terrorism 19%, Illegal Immigration 17%, and the War in Iraq 13%.

Florida Republicans give the national economy very low marks. Sixty-three percent said the economy is in the tank. That's comparable to Michigan, which is suffering through the worst unemployment in the nation.

And despite these negative feelings about the economy, a majority of this Republican electorate still has positive feelings about the Bush administration: 20% are enthusiastic and 46% are satisfied. The president gets even higher marks in Florida than he did in South Carolina. And a reminder, this is important because it is a closed primary. Only registered Republicans can participate. We're going to see many more races like this on Super Tuesday.

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Comments

MSNBC is making a big mistake by not following the Demoratic primary in Florida. Its lack of coverage is proving you to be a highly biased news system, much like Fox news.

Partt ime (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 8:01 PM)

Partt ime

Take a look at CNN, they are reporting it, and guess what, Clinton is winning and Obama once again gets 70% of the black vote and 27% of the white vote. With Clinton getting 60% of the latino vote and Obama getting 30% of the latino vote.

JT, Texas (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 8:15 PM)

I agree with you.I thought I was watching FOX NEWS!!!!

Deb Tipp City Oh (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 8:21 PM)

CNN and Wolf Blitszer or Blizzard is another Hillary and Slick Willy Lover !!!!

Ken Collins/Wagoner,Oklahoma (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 8:22 PM)

I am distressed that the media is making it seem like we Florida Democrats do not count in this important election. We know we lost our delegates but we also follow the campaign and we have a right to make our voices heard. My 25 year old daughter and my 21 year old son and I voted in the Democrat primary (not unanimous in our choices) My son is very angry that his vote means nothing according to media talking heads. We watch the news and follow the elections closly. At least Clinton is coming here to acknowlege us and the support she has been given. Obama's attitude that we are irrelavant will hurt him here if he wins the primary election. Democrats have a hard enough time carrying this state in general elections. My child that is for Clinton is less angry at her than my child that is for Obama. Please stop discouraging my young voters.

Jerianne Meyers, Tampa, Florida (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 8:33 PM)

By election we will be again burned out on who ever gets the vote! Never in the past history has America dragged itself so far into the gutter. Issues and those elected to solve issue have failed. Pointing a finger is meaningless and so is a failed congress! Supporting those who continue a path of only masking the problem Is the issue!

No common sense remains in Washington as it is all self serving, yet today some of the self serving paper hanger were defeated! The President cut pork barrel spending and this should be invoked as a law to be enforced. Take away the lobbyist and pork barrel, then resolve issue!

Placing the Clinton's , would be a co-President! We are electing one President not ""TWO""!

Send a real message,

"" America is taking back Washington""

"""" THAT IS A FACT"""

SOLID FACT (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:02 PM)

I'm watching Hillary Clinton's self proclaimed victory speech in Florida and I have to tell you the women sounds a bit looney and looks altogether desperate. This doean't bode well for someone who wants to be president. Has the hugh South Carolina primary loss she sustained made her loose complete sanity. Think hard about what she is doing here. I don't know if I can vote for her anymore. She has always had the reputation that she will say and do anything to win and this sad desperate display tonight is really unsettling.

MG, St. Louis, Mo. (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:06 PM)

OK...OK...Enough with the bias toward Obama! EVEN FOX has streaming voting results in the Florida primary. You have got to be kidding me! I was beginning to think CNN was biased, but my goodness, this is too much.

Melinda, Charlotte, NC (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:07 PM)

Nora, Chris, and Keith. You are idiots. Hillary Clinton is going to get more votes in Florida than the leading republican. Talk about trying to rig an election. Everybody knows the delegates do not count, but Florida has more votes than all of the previous states combined. You gave Mike Huchabee more time and atention than Hillary. You did not even post the results consistantly. FOX and CNN did. They both seem fair and balanced next to you. What a democracy. MSNBC might as well brake out the communist manefesto. Pre-planned twisted untruthful damaging slanted media coverage. Kieth Oberman, the worste person in the world!!!! Way worse than Bill O. If Obama keeps getting a pass, and you keep beating Clinton unfairly you should be fired. I say we boycott MSNBC and talk to their board and shareholders about these folk's behavior. They should really be fired for incompentance and curruption.

tom.A, st. cloud MN (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:09 PM)

Well that's because -- guess what -- your votes literally don't count. Why would the media spend time covering a state where not one of the candidates campaigned and that right now is not sending a single delegate to the convention. If you're going to be upset at anyone, aim your anger at your state Democratic Party. They're the ones who illegally moved the primary, and the DNC did the right thing by stripping the state of the delegates. This front-loaded primary season is getting absolutely ridiculous, and I think it is the ultimate of all ironies and justice that this is going to be the year the states voting later in the process are going to matter more than they have in decades.

Pete, Nassau, NY (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:20 PM)

Hillary Clinton Floridians, do not realize when they are being used? If she was not leading in the polls, do you really believe that she would be down there fighting to make sure that your voices get heard? Hillary Clinton is so phony. She is down there pretending that she really cares about Floridians and its disgusting. The sad part is that you fools actually believe her. No wonder you guys allow the Republicans to win your state every year. You guys don't pay attention and are easily duped. How many of you fools voted for George Bush or did not vote at all the last two elections?

Florida, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:24 PM)

Earlier, when I said EVEN FOX was showing streaming results of the primary, of course I meant the Democratic primary!

Melinda, Charlotte, NC (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:29 PM)

So, citizens of Florida, let me get this straight, the ecomony is your biggest concern far and away and yet you voted for McCentury, the guy that knows the absolute least of every candidate running about the economy. Way to think that through. Nice work.

Proud not to be a Floridian (Sent Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:50 PM)

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