The vote largely reflected dissatisfaction with Mr. Koch and concern over race relations, primarily among self-described liberals, according to the exit poll.

In the general electorate, about one-third of the voters call themselves conservatives while only about one-quarter are self-described liberals.

In previous decades, Republican strategists say, statewide polls of likely voters showed that those identifying themselves as conservatives outnumbered self-described liberals by two to one.

And, as the boycott edges into its third month, self-described liberals are ignoring the protesters' cries of "Shame!

But in an untypical response, most of the self-described liberals are ignoring protesters at the store, apparently unable to do without the fancy cheeses and crustaceans.

In particular, self-described liberals outnumbered conservatives 85 per cent to 11 per cent, a ratio of almost eight to one.

Many CIS scholars are self-described classical liberals.

Republicans overwhelmingly approved of Mr. Schwarzenegger, while even a third of Democrats and self-described liberals had a positive view of the new governor.

The White House and its allies circulated statements from self-described liberals praising Judge Alito's work.

Democratic voters, by contrast, were largely self-described liberals seeking a leader who was concerned about protecting Social Security and Medicare and would improve education.