Here is what the exit polls said about the Barack Obama-John McCain contest::

New York Times:

• The exit polls showed that, nationally, twice as many Obama voters (56 percent) were excited about him as McCain voters (28 percent) are excited about their candidate

CNN:

• Obama led McCain among Hispanics 67 percent to 30 percent. In 2004, Bush drew 40 percent of that vote. in his home state, McCain trailed Obama among Hispanics 61 percent to 36 percent. In Florida, where Cuban-Americans have traditionally moved the Hispanic vote behind Republicans, Obama is winning 57 percent to 42 percent.
• Twenty percent of voters said race was an important factor in their decision and Obama won among those 55 percent to 44 percent.
• Twice as many voters said McCain's age was an important factor as those who cited race, and they voted for Obama 78 percent to 21 percent.
• Voters under 29 backed Obama by more than 2 to 1.
• Sixty percent said Sarah Palin was not qualified to be President.
• The number of late-deciders was small. Only 7 percent said they made up their minds in the last three days.

Associated Press

• Six in 10 voters name the economy as the top issue.
• None of the other issues - energy, Iraq, terrorism or health care - was picked by more than one in 10.
• Half of voters said the economy was poor and nearly all the rest said it was not good.
• Half of voters are very worried the economic crisis will harm their family's finances and a third were somewhat worried.
• More than half oppose the $700 billion government bail-out plan.
• Two-thirds of voters were worriewd about being able to afford health care.
• One in 10 voters said they were casting ballots for the first time and 6 in 10 were under 30.
• Message to pollsters: a quarter of new voters don't have landlines at home, only cell phones.
• Six in 10 voters said future appointments to the Supreme Court were an important factor in their decision.
• Two-thirds of voters favor drilling for oil in offshore waters where it is currently not allowed.

CBS News:

• Three-quarters of voters said the country was on the wrong track and almost as many disapproved of the performance of President Bush and Congress.
• Thirty-six percent of voters were looking for a candidate who can bring change, and 30 percent said they wanted someone who shared their values.
• Sixty-six percent of voters saw McCain as the candidate running the most negative campaign and only 48 percent say Obama has attacked McCain unfairly.
• Voters believed Obama was more in touch with people like themselves by 57 percent to 40 percent.
• Sixty percent said McCain had the experience to be President compared to 50 percent for Obama.

ABC News:

• Turnout of black voters was 13 percent, just slightly higher than in 2004.