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November 5, 2008
Exit Polls: Latino Voters Tipped the Balance
Posted: 01:29 AM ET

From CNN's Joe Von Kanel and Hal Quinley of Yankelovich

(CNN)–According to exit poll results released thus far, Latino voters voted for Barack Obama over John McCain by a more than a 2-1 margin nationally: 66 percent to 31 percent. The proportion voting for the Democratic candidate is up sharply from 2004, when 55 percent of Latino voters supported John Kerry and 44 percent voted for President Bush.

Latinos are responsible for Obama's victory in New Mexico and contributed strongly to his margins in Nevada and Colorado. In New Mexico, Latinos constituted 41 percent of the electorate and voted for Obama by a 69 percent to 30 percent margin; white voters in New Mexico supported McCain 56 percent to 42 percent.

In Colorado, Latinos comprised 13% of the electorate and broke for Obama 64% to 34% while white voters split evenly. In Nevada, Latinos comprised 16 percent of the electorate and supported Obama 78 percent to 20 percent. Fifty-one percent of Nevada's white voters went for McCain.