American Jew casts vote in Israel
American Jew casts vote in IsraelIsrael news photo: Flash 90

President Barack Obama won 69 percent of the Jewish vote, compared with 78 percent in 2008, according to exit polls. At one point in the campaign, polls showed that Jews would support Obama by only 60-65 percent. The figures are not official and have margin of error that could slant the number in either direction by 1-2 percentgae points.

In Israel, Romney won more than 80 percent of the vote of Jewish living in the Jewish State, underlining the difference in priorities among Jews in the Diaspora, where health care and the economy are the dominating influences.

The exit polls by CNN show a sharp, if not disturbing, picture of a divided society. The first black president in the history of the United States won 74 percent of the non-white vote.

Among white Catholics, Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon, received only 38% backing, with 62% voting for Obama.

Sixty percent of non-religious whites cast their ballots for Obama, while 36% voted for the Republican candidate.

American society also was distinctly divided among age groups, according to the exit polls, with younger Americans backing Obama and older voters casting ballots for Romney.

Specifically, Obama defeated Romney by an overwhelming 67-31 margin among those aged 18-24, and he won 52% of those aged 30-44, while Romney won 47%.

The numbers were reversed in older groups, with Romney winning 64% of the votes in the age 45-64 group and 58% of those older than 65.

The gender gap also was pronounced, with men supporting Romney over Obama by 52-45% and the president winning 63% support of women, who gave Romney 46% of their support.