Unaffiliated voters play key role in N.H.
— -- Armand Guillemette likes Democrat Barack Obama, but the independent voter went to his polling place in Manchester, N.H., on a mission Tuesday: to keep Republican John McCain's prospects alive.
"If I want McCain to be there (in the general election), he needs the help right now," said Guillemette, 75.
Support from independents such as Guillemette helped the Arizona senator defeat former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in the Granite State, according to a survey of voters as they left polling places. The survey was done for the Associated Press and television networks. It was a showing that reprised his 2000 victory in the state against George W. Bush.
In the Democratic race, they were a large part of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's support, although not enough to prevent New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton from edging him out.
More than a third of those who cast ballots in the Republican primary were independents. The unaffiliated voters, who are eligible to vote in either primary, accounted for more than four out of 10 voters in the Democratic primary.
McCain and Romney took the bulk of the independents who voted Republican, but McCain held a significant lead.
In the Democratic primary, independents who cited the war in Iraq as a top concern voted 2-to-1 for Obama, who has made his opposition to the war a key issue in his campaign.
Obama also led Clinton with independents on the economy. Even on health care, which Clinton has claimed as a signature issue, Obama was ahead with independents.
Among independent men, his support was nearly 3-to-1 over Clinton. Women split more evenly.
Frank Swierz, 66, a retiree and independent voter from Manchester, hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in more than 30 years. Tuesday, he voted for Obama.
"He is fresh," Swierz said. "I don't think he has been in Congress long enough to be sullied by the process down there."
Danielle Pettengill, 33, a massage therapist and yoga instructor from Nashua, said she decided to back Clinton in the final hours. "I'm ready for a woman president," she said.
