Economy Top Issue in Mississippi: EXIT POLLS

By Emily Wagster Pettus/The Associated Press

JACKSON — More than half of Mississippi voters say the economy was the top issue on their minds as they voted in the presidential race Tuesday, according to a preliminary exit poll conducted for The Associated Press and other news organizations. Here’s a look at preliminary results from exit polling in Mississippi:

TOP ISSUES

The economy was the most important issue, by a wide margin, while the deficit and health care were more distant concerns. A small share of voters listed foreign policy as the most important issue.

FAMILY FINANCES

A sizeable share of voters said they think their financial situation is worse now than it was four years ago. Smaller shares said their financial situation is about the same or better.

RELIGION

More than half of voters said they attend religious services once a week.

MINDS MADE UP LONG AGO

A large majority said they made up their minds in the presidential race before September.

The preliminary exit poll of 549 Mississippi voters was conducted for the AP and the television networks by Edison Research in a random sample of 15 precincts statewide. Results were subject to sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points; it is higher for subgroups.

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Online: http://www.surveys.ap.org/exitpolls

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