Wide section of GOP voters in Arizona went for Romney

Jobs and the economy were the issues most important to Arizona's GOP voters, exit polls showed. But voters were split on what to do about the issue of illegal immigration, which has embroiled the state in controversy in recent years but has lost its overarching status.

Only 13 percent of Arizona voters called immigration the most important issue in the race, exit polls showed, and voters were split almost evenly in thirds when asked if illegal immigrants should be deported, allowed to stay as temporary workers or offered a chance to apply for citizenship.

With 86 percent of the statewide vote counted, Romney took 47 percent. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum came in second with 26 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich took 16 percent, and Rep. Ron Paul won 8 percent.

Arizona will send 29 delegates to the Republican convention. That's half of the normal allotment and reflects a penalty imposed because the primary is being held before March 6.

With victories in Arizona and Michigan on Tuesday, "it is inevitable the next president of the United States will be … Mitt Romney," said Arizona Sen. John McCain, who defeated Romney in Arizona's 2008 GOP primary.

"This has been a fun ride, and it's only just beginning," Romney's Arizona campaign co-chairman, state House Speaker Andy Tobin, told a crowd of supporters gathered at a downtown hotel. "The governor has won the most conservative state in America and won overwhelmingly."

Romney's campaign built a solid base by encouraging supporters to cast early ballots and then solidified the winning effort with Romney's performance in the Feb. 22 debate in Mesa, Tobin said.

According to exit poll results, Romney captured pluralities of support from voters across sex, race, age, education and income.

Santorum was even with Romney only among voters who called themselves "very conservative." Even among voters who said they strongly support the tea party, Romney and Santorum were about even.

Romney drew overwhelming support from fellow Mormons and had about the same support from Catholics as Santorum, who is Catholic.

Each captured about one-third of the Hispanic vote, with Gingrich and Paul splitting the rest. Gingrich has been considered the favorite for Hispanics on the issue of immigration, as he was the only candidate to support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country.

But fewer than one in 10 voters were Hispanic, and political watchers said many voters here have grown weary of the rhetoric that has dominated state politics and early debates in the race.

"It is still a key issue," said Jennifer Korn, executive director of the Republican-funded Hispanic Leadership Network.

"I think that there will be a lot more discussion in a more rational tone when it comes to the general election," she said.

Romney was the only candidate to run ads in Arizona. There was little in-person campaigning by candidates other than right before a debate held in Mesa last week among Romney, Santorum, Gingrich and Paul.

Many voters cast early ballots, but retired civil engineer Quinn Hutchinson, of Phoenix, was among those who voted the traditional way.

"I had it between Romney and Newt, and I decided that Romney has the experience in government that he needs to go in (and) start from the beginning, not be a president-in-training," the 84-year-old said.

T.F. Muenter, a 64-year-old retiree in Phoenix, also voted for Romney. "I like him," Muenter said.

"I think he has a lot of good ideas, better than the other guys. I hope he wins it all."

But husband and wife Joe and Evelyn Turany, of Phoenix, said Romney was too rich and too arrogant to win their favor.

"It would be like exchanging one snob for another snob," said Evelyn Turany, 75, a retired teacher. "There is no way a man that wealthy can understand my position."

They voted for Santorum, saying he offered the most conservative values.

How the vote went in some Arizona counties

Results for selected Arizona counties:

County Romney Santorum Gingrich Paul

Cochise 38.7% 33.7% 18% 8%

Pima 44.2% 30.4% 15.8% 7.8%

Pinal 46.7% 26.5% 17.5% 8.2%

Maricopa 49.7% 24.5% 15.7% 8.7%

Santa Cruz 39.2% 31.1% 18.9% 8.3%

Note: Results unofficial with 87 percent of precincts reporting statewide.