Edited by Thane Peterson

Bill Clinton was the top choice of regular Internet users, according to Election Day exit polls. The Democratic incumbent won the backing of 49% of cybersurfers -- about the same percentage he picked up from all voters. Republican Presidential candidate Bob Dole was supported by 40% of regular Net users, 1% less than his overall score. Reform Party nominee Ross Perot -- who conducted his party's primary voting, in part, via the Internet -- garnered the votes of 9% of Internet users, vs. 8.5% overall. Just over a quarter of all voters told exit pollsters they regularly use the Net.

Clinton, however, scored a stunning upset among another group of voters he was not expected to win: smokers. He trounced Dole, 53% to 36%, among the 19% of voters who say they currently smoke. Clinton also led among former smokers, 49% to 41%. Nonsmokers divided their votes evenly, 46% for Clinton to 45% for Dole. One possible reason for the difference: Smokers question Dole's oft-repeated statement that nicotine is not necessarily addictive.

By Richard S. Dunham in Washington