Exit Polls: The Erie Connection

Ohio and Pennsylvania: Barack Obama's two big pickups of the early part of the evening were built on two key strengths he carried throughout the election, according to preliminary exit poll data.

Deep dissatisfaction with Pres. Bush topped seven in 10 in both states, and Obama won these voters by more than 40 points in each state

And about six in 10 voters in each of these two battlegrounds called the economy the top problem facing the country. Those voters gave Obama double-digit advantages.

At the same time, Obama did a better job than McCain connecting with voters. About six in 10 in each state said McCain was not in touch with their problems. Around half in each state said only Obama understood the lives of people like them.

McCain was unable to convince voters in Pennsylvania or Ohio that Obama lacked the experience to serve as president, 57 percent of Keystone staters and 51 percent in the Buckeye state said Obama was prepared for the job.