By CQ Staff

Exit polls based in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont showed an electorate most concerned about the economy and their personal finances — though in Vermont, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama appeared to ride a tide of anti-Iraq sentiment to victory.

“Change” appeared to trump “experience” in voters’ minds. In Texas, the Hispanic turnout appeared to be headed for a record and the vote was breaking for New York Sen. Hillary Rodhamn Clinton by a large margin.

MSNBC reported the following from Ohio:

• White voters made up 75 percent of the turnout, and Hillary Rodham Clinton led among them by 61 percent to 38 percent. Black voters accounted for 19 percent of the turnout, and Obama led 89 percent to 11 percent.

• Obama led 67 percent to 32 percent among the 16 percent of voters under 29. Clinton led 67 percent to 23 percent among the 23 percent over 65. The differences were less sharp for voters between those age groups.

• Clinton led 63 percent to 36 percent among the quarter of voters whose education stopped with high school graduation. Obama did better among more educated voters, but not by as large a margin.

• Eleven percent of voters didn’t make up their minds until today. That group broke for Clinton by 52 percent to 46 percent.

• Obama and Clinton ran within about 6 points or less of each other on three top issues: the economy, Iraq and health care. Fifty-eight percent of voters cited the economy as the top issue compared with 19 percent each for Iraq and health care. On the economy, Clinton led 52 percent to 47 percent.

Associated Press offered these toplines:

• As polls have been showing for weeks, the economy was the foremost campaign issues for voters in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island.

• Two-thirds of Democratic voters in Texas said they were very or somewhat worried about their personal financial situation, and seven out of 10 answered similarly in the three other states.

• In Ohio, 80 percent of voters blamed international trade for taking away more jobs than it creates.

• Four in 10 Clinton voters in Texas and Ohio said Obama inspired them about the future of the country while one in seven Obama voters conceded that Clinton was more qualified to be commander in chief.

•Arizona Sen. John McCain was giving former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee a run for his money among white, evangelical Christians who made up about 40 percent of the Republican vote.

CBS News reports that:

• Thirty-two percent of Texas primary voters were Hispanic — up from 24 percent in 2004. In Ohio, 20 percent are African American, compared with 14 percent in 2004. Eighteen percent of Texas primary voters today are black, compared with 21 percent in 2004.

• In both Ohio and Texas, a majority of Democratic voters said superdelegates should cast their vote based on the results of the primaries. A third say the superdelegates should support the candidate who has the best chance of winning in November.

ABC News offered the following:

• The ability to bring change trumped experience in voters minds by 20 points in Ohio and 15 points in Texas. Those numbers are lower than Wisconsin, where the margin was 32 points.

• Turnout among women looked to be up in Texas and Ohio.

• Early exit polling suggested a smaller than previous turnout among union voters in Ohio.

From the CNN newsroom:

•Early exit poll results showed Clinton ahead of Obama among Hispanic voters by 64 percent to 35 percent - a must for her. Black voters were supporting Obama by an 83 percent to 16 percent margin.

• In Texas, 26 percent of Republican primary voters said the economy was their top concern, followed by 23 percent who cited terrorism, 21 percent who noted Iraq and 16 percent who said illegal immigration.

• In Vermont, more than two-thirds of women, and roughly 60 percent of voters age 65 and higher — usually the core of Clinton’s support — went for Obama, in part, because they preferred him on the issue of Iraq.