WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump drew the backing of Florida Republican primary voters who would like to see the deportation of immigrants in the U.S. illegally and those looking for an outsider as the billionaire bested Sen. Marco Rubio in his home state, according to early exit poll results.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders in North Carolina with widespread support from black voters.
In Ohio, Gov. John Kasich was doing better than Trump with Republican voters who have college degrees and those who say they’re more moderate. The two were locked in a close race in Kasich’s home state Tuesday.
According to early results of exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks by Edison Research, a significant number of voters from both parties in Florida, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and North Carolina were late in deciding whom to vote for.
Other highlights from the exit polls:
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TRUMP’S BIG FLORIDA WIN
Early exit polls in Florida indicate Trump won about half of whites and 3 in 10 Hispanics. He was also backed by most voters without a college degree, and about 4 in 10 of those with a college diploma.
More GOP voters in Florida are looking for a political outsider and three-quarters voted for Trump. Four in 10 are angry with Washington and more than 6 in 10 of them prefer Trump.
Trump was backed by two-thirds of those who would like to see illegal immigrants departed; those who want to give undocumented workers a chance to apply for legal status divided their votes closely between the two.
For Rubio, it was rough night across nearly all demographics.
Rubio was backed by voters looking for experience, by voters who are not so negative about politics and the government and by those opposed to denying Muslims entry into the country. Unfortunately for him, those voters made up a small portion of those who turned out.
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DEMOCRATS IN NORTH CAROLINA
In North Carolina, Clinton won with a large majority of black voters while Sanders drew support from young voters.
Clinton was supported by a majority of women, voters age 45 and over, and those in households making more than $100,000 or under $30,000.
Sanders drew white men, independents, a majority of voters under 30, and those who cared most about income inequality.
Clinton also garnered more voters who said they care most about having a candidate who can win in November or who has the right experience.
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KASICH RUNNING STRONG IN OHIO
In Ohio, Kasich was drawing more than half of college graduates, while Trump was the favorite of those without a college degree.
Trump voters were more likely to describe themselves as very conservative, while Kasich was supported by moderates and those who were somewhat conservative.
Kasich was supported by about 6 in 10 voters saying they most want a candidate who shares their values. The governor also was drawing support from voters who feel they’re getting ahead financially.
For Trump, he was drawing voters who feel like they’re falling behind financially and those who say they want a candidate who can bring change. About 8 in 10 of those wanting a candidate who “tells it like it is” also supported Trump.
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LATE DECIDERS
About 4 in 10 Republicans in Illinois and Missouri decided on their vote choice in the last week, along with a third in Ohio. Nearly 3 in 10 Republicans in Florida and North Carolina primaries made their decision in the last week.
As seen in earlier primaries, voters who made up the minds close to the primary were less inclined to support Trump. Of the Republicans in Ohio who decided in the last week, more than half preferred Kasich.
Among Democrats about a quarter made their vote decision in the last week, except in Florida, where less than a fifth were late deciders. In Illinois, North Carolina and Ohio, those who made up their mind in the last week backed Sanders.
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The surveys were conducted for The Associated Press and television networks by Edison Research as voters left their polling places at 30 to 40 randomly selected sites in five states holding primary elections Tuesday.
Preliminary results include interviews with 663 to 1,710 Democratic primary voters and 718 to 2,255 Republican primary voters in each state. In Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, the results also include telephone interviews with early and absentee voters.
The results among all those voting in each contest have a margin of sampling error ranging of either plus or minus 4 percentage points or plus or minus 5 percentage points.
(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) 
