The Associated Press
Economic Message Helped Push Buchanan to Victory
RAN 2/21/96
By NANCY ROBERTS TROTT 
Associated Press Writer
   CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Pat Buchanan's message of more American jobs and
   a stronger economy helped push him to a narrow victory in the nation's
   first presidential primary, a poll indicated.
   
   Buchanan, who made the cause of "Middle America" a central theme of
   his campaign, did well among lower- to middle-income voters, those
   between ages 30 and 44, and those who listed jobs and the economy as
   the most important issue of the campaign.
   
   Buchanan voter Ronald Pelletier, 42, works in an auto body shop.
   
   "He's looking out for the middle class a little more than the others.
   He's trying to keep our jobs here rather than losing them overseas,"
   said Pelletier, who lives in Manchester.
   
   The exit poll was conducted by Voter News Service, a consortium of The
   Associated Press, ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC. The results were based on a
   sampling of 2,555 voters as they left 60 polling places around New
   Hampshire.
   
   The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 2.5 percentage points
   for the overall sample, higher for subgroups.
   
   Buchanan, Bob Dole and Lamar Alexander divided many voter groups
   fairly evenly Tuesday, the poll showed. However, Buchanan was way
   ahead of the pack, with 53 percent, among those who said they wanted a
   candidate who "stands up for what he believes in."
   
   Sharon Fortuna, 25, of Dover, chose Buchanan for that reason.
   
   "He seems to be more honest than the other candidates. Even though
   he's done some bad things and has some negative feelings about
   different people, he at least has come forward with that," she said.
   
   Buchanan, a conservative commentator, did very well in the two
   previous GOP presidential tests in Louisiana and Iowa, propelled
   mainly by conservatives and the religious right.
   
   In New Hampshire, the story was different, partly because 17 percent
   of those interviewed said they were part of the religious right
   compared with twice that proportion in Iowa. Buchanan got half of the
   religious right voters in New Hampshire, however.
   
   Among Buchanan voters, 43 percent were Catholic.
   
   Of the 16 percent of voters who said they were very conservative, 58
   percent voted for Buchanan.
   
   Dole and Buchanan each got about 27 percent of voters who described
   themselves as somewhat conservative.
   
   Of voters who said abortion was the most important issue, 64 percent
   voted for Buchanan. However, only 9 percent of voters overall said
   abortion was the top issue, and 68 percent said the Republican Party
   should not support a constitutional amendment to ban abortion.
   
   Kellie Ljungholm, 26, of Canterbury, decided on primary eve to cast
   her vote for Buchanan.
   
   "He seems the most conservative. He's against abortion and I just
   think he's probably the most dynamic of the Republicans," she said.
   
   "Dole's too old," she added.
   
   Age played a factor in Dole's fall. Thirty-four percent of voters
   predicted Dole's age would hurt him as president. Among those voters,
   Buchanan and Alexander received about equal support.
   
   Alexander made age an issue in the campaign, billing himself as the
   energetic alternative to Dole, 72.
   
   Dole did best among older voters and voters who felt Washington
   experience was most important quality in a candidate. Forty-three
   percent of those 65 and older said they voted for Dole, and 90 percent
   of voters who wanted a candidate with Washington experience chose the
   Senate majority leader.
   
   Paul Beecher, 48, of Dover, was among them.
   
   "It's unrealistic to think that some of the other candidates who came
   in with no real knowledge of how the federal government operates or
   how Congress operates can be successful in trying to change things,"
   Beecher said. "We really need somebody who knows the ins and outs of
   the system."
   
   Dole, the year-long front-runner, began to wobble as the primary
   neared. To demonstrate his support, Dole used the endorsements of many
   elected officials, including Gov. Steve Merrill. But the poll showed
   the endorsement from the hugely popular governor had little effect.
   
   Forty-six percent of Dole supporters said Merrill's endorsement had no
   effect and 22 percent said it had little effect on their decision.
   Only 24 percent said it somewhat affected their vote. Overall, 69
   percent of voters said the endorsement did not affect their vote.
   
   AP-DS-02-21-96 0157EST