(AP) - An exit poll has found that John McCain's experience, reputation for "straight talk" and appeal among moderates helped him beat Mitt Romney in New Hampshire's Republican primary.
Women returned solidly to Hillary Rodham Clinton's side in the Democratic contest, countering Barack Obama's advantage among the state's large bloc of independents.
Romney edged out McCain among the half of Republican primary voters who called themselves conservative. But McCain won more handily among moderates and the roughly 10 percent who were self-described liberals, according to preliminary results of surveys conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks.
In the Democratic race, Clinton won nearly half the women's vote while Obama got only about a third. In Iowa, Obama had narrowly edged out Clinton among women.
Registered independents, who could choose between the two parties' primaries, had been seen as a key to victory in both races in New Hampshire, but were more of a factor on the Republican side.
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