Female Florida voters help give Romney sizable win

11:22 PM, Jan 31, 2012   |    comments
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • - A A A +

WASHINGTON (AP) - Women are apparently a key factor in Mitt Romney's primary victory in Florida over Newt Gingrich.

Romney won the female vote by a margin of 5-3, while holding just a small edge among men. There was relatively little difference in how the sexes voted for them in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina.

Some of the data suggest that many female voters in Florida had a personal distaste for Gingrich. Negative campaign ads aimed at him attacked his character, although they did not mention his three marriages or allegations by his second wife.

Romney, meanwhile, won among every income category, although he was stronger with higher-income voters than those nearer the bottom economic rung. He drew strength from those looking to unseat President Barack Obama.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)