CBS News early Illinois exit polls: 4 in 10 Romney, Santorum voters "have reservations"

[Julian Englis]

More than four in ten of the people who voted for Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in Tuesday's GOP primary in Illinois "have reservations" about their choice, according to early CBS News exit polls.

Forty-seven percent of Romney voters "strongly" favor their candidate, as do 44 percent of Santorum voters. But 41 percent of Romney voters and 44 percent of Santorum voters say they have concerns about their choice. Another one in ten supporters of each candidate say they dislike the other candidates.

The exit polls also found that two in three Illinois GOP voters would prefer that their candidate win the nomination even if the race goes on a long time. Twenty-nine percent said they would prefer that the race end soon even if it means their candidate loses.

As in other states, Illinois GOP voters overwhelmingly cited the economy as their top issue. Fifty-six percent pointed to the economy. That was followed by the federal budget deficit at 26 percent, abortion at 12 percent and illegal immigration at four percent. One in five Illinois GOP voters say the economy is starting to recover, while one in three say it is stagnant. Nearly half - 46 percent - say the economy is getting worse.

More at: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57401138-503544/cbs-news-early-illinois-exit-polls-4-in-10-romney-santorum-voters-have-reservations/

[Mr.Turnip]

1. CNN and CBS have wildly differing exit polls on what issues matter today.

and apparently Gingrich has somehow STILL not entirely collapsed, his voters somehow can't get the clue doing about the same as in other Midwestern states in the early exits.

Santorum is winning the groups he always does and so is Romney.

it looks like a clear Romney win but not 15 points.

[mucifer]

2. I have a problem with releasing exit poll results before the polls close.

If people feel the choice has already been made, it can deter them from voting.

[Mr.Turnip]

3. that and as we've seen time and time again early exit polls are frequently wrong.

I think just last week the early exits in MI had Santorum down by around 7 or 8 he of course won by 3.

and If I recall correctly the early exit polls in 04 showed a much better night for Kerry then what actually transpired.

[lob1]

4. My understanding is that exit polling is the most accurate type of polling.

If the exit polling is wildly off from the actual outcome, it's a good indicator that the election was stolen.

[Mr.Turnip]

5. Only the final exits.

these are wave 1 exits, the earliest exit polls, many people vote after these are taken.

[frazzled]

6. There are no results revealed in these exit poll reports

Just demographic trends. So it shouldn't influence people's votes. (Telling someone that 4 in 10 of people who voted for these two candidates didn't feel confident doesn't tell us anything about who was getting more votes.)