Romney wins home state primary in Mass.

updated 10:54 p.m. ET Feb. 5, 2008

BOSTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton turned back Barack Obama and his high-profile endorsements to win the presidential primary in Massachusetts, while former Gov. Mitt Romney had little trouble defending his home turf against Republican rival John McCain.

The New York senator relied on state lawmakers, who cranked up their get-out-the-vote efforts on Super Tuesday to offset Obama's headline-grabbing endorsements from Sen. Edward Kennedy and Gov. Deval Patrick.

Romney, criticized for treating Massachusetts as a stepping stone to higher office while governor, won his home state by finding favor with voters who support him on immigration and the economy, according to exit polls conducted for The Associated Press.

"It's touching to have folks remember us fondly," Romney said after voting Tuesday in Belmont.

The Associated Press made the calls based on surveys of voters as they left the polls.

Republican Mary Jordan of Topsfield said she didn't decide to vote for Romney until she entered the voting booth.

"I think he's the least unlikeable. I really didn't like any of them," Jordan, a 43-year-old teacher's aide, said of a GOP field that also included former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Exit poll results showed that close to half of all voters in both parties cited the economy as the most important challenge facing the nation. For Democratic voters, the war in Iraq placed a close second. For Republican voters, immigration placed second.

Kennedy summoned memories of his brother the slain president when he endorsed Obama a week ago, and Patrick campaigned hard for his fellow Chicagoan.

Clinton was bolstered by support among rank-and-file state lawmakers, as well as Senate President Therese Murray, who has suggested Clinton lost key endorsements in part because she's a woman.

John Stephen Dwyer, a 40-year-old education coordinator from Boston, said he voted for Obama.

"I like his optimism," Dwyer said. "I like his boldness on environmental issues I like his consistency in not supporting our military action overseas."

Bob Poland, 49, said he chose Clinton based on her experience.

"Obama seems like a nice guy, but I'm just worried he doesn't have enough experience to be president," said Poland, a travel agent who also cited Clinton's stance on health care and economic issues.

Picking the president: The candidates Click to visit that candidate’s msnbc.com page or click the XML symbol for an RSS feed. John McCain    Barack Obama

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