Romney wins Georgia; picks up 16 electoral votes

"With the resistance he had from Republicans (in Congress), I still think he's got us on the path to improving our economy and will have a better four years," Adams said.

Die-hard Republicans saw the choice as simple.

"There's nothing about Obama that's good for our country and our nation," said Lillian Petrie, 80, of Thomasville.

Democrats in Georgia have been watching Obama's performance as an indicator of whether they can revive their flagging party. Obama lost Georgia in 2008, though he still took 47 percent of the vote, a better-than-normal showing for a Democratic candidate in Georgia during an election that saw heavy voter turnout. The last Democrat to win Georgia, Bill Clinton, took just 43 percent of the vote in an election that featured independent Ross Perot, who siphoned off support from the major party candidates.

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Russ Bynum contributed to this report from Augusta. Follow Ray Henry at http:// twitter.com/rhenryAP.