AUGUSTA – Maine voters were feeling poorer and looking for a change in direction as they gave their support to Democrat John Kerry in Tuesday’s presidential balloting, according to an Associated Press survey.

A third of those surveyed at Maine polling places said their family’s financial situation was worse than it was four years ago, and a large majority of those voters – eight of every 10 – voted for Kerry.

The percentage of those who saw themselves in worse financial shape was twice as high as it was during presidential voting in Maine four years ago.

Still, Iraq was the issue that mattered most, as a quarter of those polled cited the war as their top issue in deciding how they would vote for president. More than a third of the voters overall strongly disapproved of Bush’s job performance.

“Bush. Seeing him defeated,” John Davulis of Hallowell said when asked to cite his primary reason for voting. “I think a general level of incompetence and his far-right views.”

Overall, voters were evenly divided on whether they approved of the United States going to war in Iraq, and Kerry drew heavy support from those who disapproved, according to the poll of 1,991 Maine voters conducted for AP and television networks by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International.

“I felt if I didn’t vote, I wouldn’t have a right to complain if Bush got back into office,” first-time voter L.E. Hentz said as her husband clutched their baby outside an Augusta polling station. “It’s because of this one here. I’m concerned for his future if Bush stays in office.”

Kerry, the Democrat challenging a Republican incumbent, dominated among voters who said that in choosing a candidate they looked for the ability to bring about change.

“I just think of all the years, this is the most critical year. … We need a change at the presidential level. I’m voting for John Kerry today,” said Rani Corey Sheaffer as she left her Hallowell voting station.

“Strong leader” was the second most important quality listed by Maine voters, and Bush drew nearly nine of 10 votes of those citing that quality.

The largest bloc of Maine voters, roughly half, described themselves as moderate. Those who called themselves liberal broke solidly for Kerry while the self-described conservatives went strongly for Bush.

About three-quarters of Maine voters decided at least a month before the election who would get their vote. Bush and Kerry ran evenly among those who made their choice on Election Day, while independent Ralph Nader gained some support from the last-minute deciders.

The choice between Bush and Kerry was difficult for voters such as Patricia English of Augusta, who said, “I’ve been flipping a coin trying to decide between the two of them” before finally opting for the Democrat.

“It seemed like both of them would be good,” English said. “Bush has been in there. I think Kerry should have a chance to serve.”

Mainers were about evenly divided on whether the country’s safer from terrorism than it was four years ago. Bush received very strong support from those who see the country as safer, while those who see it as less safe were strongly in favor of Kerry.

The survey showed that about half of Maine households own a gun. Bush ran more strongly among those who do, while nearly two-thirds of nongun households supported Kerry.

Poll results were subject to sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, higher for subgroups.