McCain, Clinton win New Jersey primary

New Jersey Republicans liked John McCain, even while they didn't always see eye-to-eye with the Arizona Republican. And Democratic women, older voters and, by a narrow margin, Hispanics preferred Hillary Rodham Clinton.

McCain, who won the state's GOP primary Tuesday, grabbed support from party moderates and seized on his endorsement from the one-time favorite, New Yorker Rudy Giuliani. He captured all 52 Republican delegates.

Clinton, the New York senator favored by New Jersey's Democratic establishment, fended off a tough challenge from Illinois Sen. Barack Obama that intensified in the final days of the campaign.

Some 4.8 million residents were eligible to vote. At least 28 percent cast ballots, putting New Jersey on course for its highest primary turnout since at least 1981, when 29 percent voted.

Moderate Republicans strongly favored McCain in New Jersey, as did GOP voters worried about the economy, according to exit poll results. However, the Arizona senator faced opposition from conservatives and those unhappy about his position on illegal immigration.

Even in defeat, Obama stood to gain a number of New Jersey's trove of 107 delegates, which are awarded proportionally. Clinton won at least 50 delegates and Obama at least 37, with results still being determined late Tuesday, according to an Associated Press tally.

White women favored Clinton, while blacks overwhelming chose Obama, exit polls found. Clinton, however, had a 3-2 edge among Democrats who said they were Hispanic or Latino. In addition, more women voted in the Democratic primary than men, and Clinton got most of them.

White women chose Clinton by better than a 2-1 margin, while black women picked Barack Obama by a 6-1 margin, according to the exit polls.

"I'm extremely enthusiastic about the outcome of tonight's race," said Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine, who endorsed Clinton. "We've had great turnout, a competitive race, and that is a great thing for the state of New Jersey."

Obama's New Jersey director, Mark Alexander, noted Clinton enjoyed huge leads in polls, only to see Obama tighten the race in the final days.

"I'm really proud of where we've come," Alexander said.

New Jersey has 20 additional Democratic delegates — often referred to as super delegates — party and elected officials who can support whomever they choose regardless of Tuesday's outcome.

With 98 percent of the vote counted, McCain had 56 percent and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had 29 percent. On the Democratic side, Clinton had 54 percent and Obama 44 percent.