More than 1.6 million votes were cast in Massachusetts - the most ever for a presidential primary.

[Breeze54]

Mass. backs Romney, Clinton; huge voter turnout in MetroWest

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x142944895

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State election officials and MetroWest town clerks anticipated record voter turnout, and they weren't disappointed
by the steady stream of voters who flocked to polling places throughout the day.

More than 1.6 million votes were cast in Massachusetts - the most ever for a presidential primary.

Marlborough City Clerk Lisa Thomas said more than 500 new voters registered for this year's primaries.
``That's a substantial increase and not reflective of people just coming of age,'' she said.
``People were pouring in (to vote) as soon as we opened the doors.''

Many MetroWest towns, including Wayland, Southborough, Sudbury and Holliston had greater than 50 percent turnout.

``I haven't been excited that someone could make these kinds of changes for about 30 years,'' Southborough voter
Isabelle Murphy said of Obama. ``I have gone from being cynical to being inspired. If I don't make an effort, who would?''

The line outside Natick's Kennedy Middle School stretched 50 people long as poll workers gave instructions to confused unenrolled voters.

Choosing a candidate was tough for many, including Democrat Susan Dewey of Sudbury, who was still undecided as she entered the Fairbank Community Center.

``But it's good when there are two good candidates,'' she said.

Massachusetts voters named the economy as their top concern, according to exit polls conducted for the Associated Press.

State Democrats put the war in Iraq second, while Republicans said immigration was their next highest priority.