Jackson Free Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Republican Mitt Romney won Mississippi by a wide margin in the presidential race Tuesday, and more than half of voters in the state said the economy was the top issue on their minds, according to a preliminary exit poll conducted for The Associated Press and other news organizations. Republican Roger Wicker was re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

Here's a look at results from preliminary 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. Romney was supported by roughly two-thirds of voters reporting incomes between $50,000 and $100,000. Obama was supported by more than half of voters reporting incomes of $50,000 or less.

ECONOMY

A substantial share of voters said they thought Republican Mitt Romney would better handle the economy, while a smaller share said they thought President Barack Obama would be better on the economy.

IN TOUCH

More than half of voters said they thought Romney was more in touch with people like them.

RACE

About 9 out of 10 white voters said they supported Romney, and about 9 out of 10 black voters said they supported Obama.

MARITAL STATUS

More than half of married people, men and women, supported Romney. More than half of unmarried people, men and women, supported Obama.

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 875 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.