asu in the news 02-06-08 to - ASU News - Arizona State University

ASU in the News
URL: Link to original text
Source: Associated Press - AP
Title: Merrill comments on election polls
Nielsen NetRatings: 10880611
Favorability: Positive
Full Text: PHOENIX (AP) -- John McCain won his home state’s GOP primary Tuesday, beating Mitt
Romney and Mike Huckabee by overcoming anger from conservatives who oppose his stance on
illegal immigration. Hillary Rodham Clinton won on the Democratic side.
At a speech in Phoenix, McCain declared himself his party’s front-runner for the presidency.
"Although I’ve never minded the role of the underdog, and have relished as much as anyone
come-from-behind wins," McCain said. "And tonight, I think we must get used to the idea that we are
the Republican Party front-runner ... And I don’t really mind it one bit."
Throughout the campaign, conservatives hammered McCain for his support of a path to citizenship
for illegal immigrants. It’s an especially touchy issue in Arizona, where more people cross illegally
than any other state along the U.S .-Mexico border.
Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, criticized McCain’s stance as "amnesty" for
people who didn’t follow the rules.
Retired Air Force Col. Bill Peel of Tucson, a World War II prisoner of war, said he supported
McCain.
"That war that we’re involved in is probably the No. 1 problem," Peel said. "We’ve got to get a
reasonable solution to that situation over there, and we can’t just walk out."
An AP exit poll showed that Clinton led among those who said experience was the most important
trait for candidates. Obama had an overwhelming lead among voters who said change was their top
priority.
Arizona State University pollster Bruce Merrill said Obama benefited from thousands of
non-traditional voters taking part in the primary.
But Clinton "worked Arizona for years," Merrill said. "Her husband was very popular here, and
they’ve worked the party machine very hard."
Kieth Anderson lined up early at a Lutheran church in Phoenix to cast his ballot for Obama. "Not to
use catch phrases that everybody else uses, like in the media, but it really is that feeling of hope,"
Anderson said.
Anderson said the war in Iraq was his No. 1 concern, citing friends he has lost in the conflict and
others he knows who are deployed there. "I’m certain my friends will be back in a year if he’s
elected," he said.
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