CHRIS KAHN and PAUL DAVENPORT
Associated Press Writers

PHOENIX (AP) _ John McCain’s victory in Arizona’s GOP primary helped solidify his place as the Republican front-runner while Hillary Rodham Clinton beat back a late surge from Barrack Obama to win the Democratic side.

In Phoenix on Tuesday, McCain said a string of key primary victories makes him the favorite to win the GOP nomination. If he indeed becomes the nominee, McCain would try to succeed where previous presidential candidates from Arizona _ Barry Goldwater, Morris Udall and Bruce Babbitt _ failed.

``We might have come a little bit closer today to the day when mothers in Arizona might be able to tell their children that someday they could grow up to be president,’’ McCain told a crowd of screaming supporters.

McCain, however, didn’t get the landslide victory expected from someone who has represented the state for more than a quarter century. He took Arizona’s 53 Republican delegates nevertheless in the winner-take-all contest.

Fred Solop, a Northern Arizona University political science professor, said McCain failed to excite conservatives with his stance on illegal immigration. ``He was linking up with Ted Kennedy and supporting a guest worker policy,’’ Solop said.

Conservatives hammered McCain for supporting a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. It’s an especially touchy issue in Arizona, where more people cross illegally than any other state along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Mitt Romney seized on McCain’s immigration policy during the campaign, criticizing the senator’s stance as ``amnesty’’ for people who didn’t follow the rules. He won strong support from those who felt that illegal immigrants should be deported, according to results of an Associated Press exit poll.

Romney, a Mormon, also claimed something close to favorite-son status in Arizona, where members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had traditionally been a dominant political force. The AP exit poll showed he won overwhelming support from Mormons, about an eighth of those voting in the Republican primary.

But McCain held his own with conservatives in Arizona, splitting their vote with Romney. McCain also captured the lion’s share of liberals and moderates. And the senator led among those who thought terrorism was the country’s No. 1 priority, according to the exit poll.

With 89 percent of precincts reporting, McCain had 211,507 votes, or 47 percent, Mitt Romney had 152,872 votes, or 34 percent, Mike Huckabee had 40,036 votes, or 9 percent.

On the Democratic side, Clinton had 189,383 votes, or 51 percent and Obama had 156,611 votes, or 42 percent, with 90 percent of precincts reporting.

Democrats award their 56 delegates according to results from the primary both statewide and by each of the eight congressional districts. It wasn’t immediately known how all the allocations would work out. But as of Wednesday morning, Clinton had won 16 delegates and Obama 13.

The AP exit poll showed that Clinton led among voters who said the right experience was the most important. Obama had an overwhelming lead among voters who said bringing needed change was the most important quality.

Clinton also was largely supported by Democrats who thought the economy was the most important issue. Obama edged Clinton with voters who said the war in Iraq is the No. 1 priority.

Both Clinton and Obama campaigned in Arizona in recent weeks as the race tightened both nationally and on a state level. Clinton also sent her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and Obama sent his wife, Michelle.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano’s Jan. 11 endorsement of Obama gave his campaign welcome support on two levels _ nationally as a female governor and on a state level as the most prominent Arizona Democrat.

Arizona State University pollster Bruce Merrill said Obama benefited from thousands of nontraditional voters taking part in the Arizona primary.

``But (Clinton) worked Arizona for years,’’ Merrill said. ``Her husband was very popular here, and they’ve worked the party machine very hard.’’

Despite Obama’s loss, Phoenix real estate investor Aaron Gouth said ``he’s showing the rest of the country he’s still a viable candidate. He’s for real. Hillary really should have won by a lot more.’’

On the Net:

Arizona Secretary of State elections: http://www.azsos.gov/election

Arizona Democratic Party: http://www.azdem.org

Arizona Republican Party: http://www.azgop.org