From Deseret News archives:
Independents vote Democratic
In a year in which both parties were playing to their bases, the center of the nation's electorate was nonetheless vital in this contentious midterm campaign as they cast ballots to decide which party would control the House and Senate.
According to interviews with voters as they left their polling places, about 4 in 10 overall said the economy, corruption and Iraq were extremely important factors in making their decisions. About 3 in 10 voters said terrorism, values and immigration were equally important.
Almost 6 in 10 voters disapprove of the war in Iraq, according to the exit polls, and about the same number believe the United States should withdraw some or all its troops. In voting for congressional candidates, nearly three-quarters of voters said corruption and government scandal were extremely important in their decisions on Tuesday.
Still, the president's sagging popularity provided an unavoidable theme for the campaign, and about 6 in 10 voters said they disapproved of how Bush was handling his job. A majority of voters declared that the nation was seriously on the wrong track, and about half of voters said the state of the economy was bad.
Nearly twice as many voters said national concerns outweighed local issues as they decided which candidates to support. That was precisely the sentiment Republicans had vigorously worked to avoid, trying to keep the fight for control of Congress as a series of individual elections rather than a national campaign.
The exit poll surveys were conducted nationwide by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International for the National Election Pool comprised of the television networks and The Associated Press.
Comments
- Wolverine women win; Griffins lose 12:37 a.m.
- Photo: The Butler drilled it 12:37 a.m.
- Same old story for Jazz 12:35 a.m.
- Jazz game at a glance 12:32 a.m.
- NASA workers worried about future 12:31 a.m.
- Shuttle begins new mission Monday 12:31 a.m.
- Young Buck scores 55 in victory 12:30 a.m.
- Frogs shut down MWC's top rusher 12:29 a.m.
- Costly mistakes doomed Utes 12:28 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 12:27 a.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Crash on snowy road kills woman
- Born of water and the spirit
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- BYU happy to escape with victory
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
358 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - BYU happy to escape with victory
194 - Senators want food tax restored
166 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - TCU plows past Utes, 55-28
134 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
106
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
So Great!!! So Proud - Love RSL - Bring Home The CUP!!!!!
mr cannon's bold assertation that the purpose of the first ammendemnt as...
Great great great game!!!! Nicky Rimando is a god! We're the most complete...
I had the game on DVR and just watched it. That was the most exciting game...
financially cannot this year, but I will watch loyally, how great to hear...
This is hardly surprising. Bennett has a remarkable arrogance which is also...
I guess that is why "they play the game" as Herman Edwards would say.. ...
What was the score of the LSU vs LA tech game? Alot closer than you'd like to...
Has Fedor not said that THIS IS OUR YEAR all year long? Go back and...
This is just a small glimpse of the future with Obamacare: corruption, waste...


You can be the first to comment on this story.