Early Pennsylvania exit poll results

An Amish horse and buggy roll past a polling station for the Pennsylvania primary at the St. John's Center United Church of Christ Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in Blue Ball, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Highlights of preliminary exit poll data in the Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary Tuesday:

FINALLY, THE MAIN EVENT

After a six-week lull since the last Democratic primary, Pennsylvania voters were so eager to participate in the hotly contested battle between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama that one in 10 changed their party registration since the start of 2008 so they could vote Tuesday. The contest was open only to registered Democrats. About half the party-switchers had been registered Republicans, while the rest had been unaffiliated with either party. Another roughly 3 percent were voting for the first time in Pennsylvania.

WHO SHOWED UP

As expected, Pennsylvania's Democratic voters were overwhelmingly white and -- as usual in Democratic contests -- there were more women than men. About three in 10 were age 65 or over. Nearly half were from families that earned less than $50,000 last year. A quarter had household income of more than $100,000 and about as many reported having a postgraduate degree.

Three in 10 Pennsylvania Democratic voters were union members or had one in their household. And four in 10 had a gun owner in the household.

LOOKS MATTER

About one in five voters said the race of the candidates was among the top factors in their vote. About as many said that about the candidates' gender.

MAKING UP THEIR MINDS

One in five voters said they chose their candidate within the final week of the Pennsylvania campaign. About one in 10 said they made up their mind Tuesday.

ECONOMIC GLOOM

Pennsylvania Democrats had a sour view of the economy -- four in 10 said the country is in a serious recession and at least as many called it a moderate recession. Only about one in 10 said the economy is not in recession.

As in earlier primaries, at least half of voters said the economy was the most important issue facing the country. About half as many said Iraq was the top issue. Health care trailed in importance.

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From a partial sample of 1,421 Democratic primary voters conducted in 40 precincts across Pennsylvania by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International for The Associated Press and television networks.