Gas Prices, Economy Top Voter Concerns: Exit Polls

Super Tuesday voters handed victories to three different candidates, but Republicans in all 10 states shared similar concerns, exit polls found. The economy was the number one issue in every state. Despite the recent focus on social issues, few voters names abortion as their chief concern, and there was little evidence of a gender gap in what issue voters considered important, the New York Times finds.

As in earlier primaries, Mitt Romney enjoyed the support of wealthier voters, while evangelicals and voters who consider themselves very conservative leaned toward Rick Santorum. Ron Paul did well among voters under 30. Gas prices were an important factor for a majority of voters, especially in the South, where 81% called it a major issue, according to CBS. Newt Gingrich—who labeled Romney the candidate of high-priced gas—won the state by a big margin. (More Election 2012 stories.)