NJ: Garden State Goes for McCain

By Joby Warrick
The Washington Post has projected Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) the winner of the New Jersey GOP primary after exit polls showed the maverick Republican with a commanding lead over his chief rival, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

McCain had pulled far ahead of Romney in opinion polls in the days before the contest, apparently benefiting from the decision of former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani to withdraw from the race and throw his support to McCain.

Exit polls showed McCain drawing strong support among moderates and independents. He even ran well among evangelical voters, with only conservative voters reported to be backing Romney.