N.P.B

Clinton wins Democratic primary

Mrs Clinton had trailed in opinion polls going into the vote Live TV coverage Democrat Hillary Clinton has won New Hampshire's presidential primary, beating rival candidate Barack Obama into second place. Earlier, John McCain won the Republican presidential primary with a substantial lead, media projections indicated. Observers say it seemed to have been a record-breaking turnout, with some half a million people having cast ballots. Candidates are aiming to build momentum before more than 20 states hold polls on 5 February, known as Super Tuesday. In conceding victory Mr Obama said: "I want to congratulate Senator Clinton on a hard fought victory here in New Hampshire. She did an outstanding job, give her a big round of applause." Mr Obama had gone into the vote with leads of up to 13% in opinion polls following his impressive victory in Thursday's Iowa caucuses. He achieved a surge in the polls after trailing Mrs Clinton's lead for much of the campaign. Turning point? Mrs Clinton having closed that gap may, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in New Hampshire, be down to an extraordinary moment during her campaigning on Monday when she appeared close to tears as she talked about how much public service meant to her. McCain supporters chanted "Mac is back, Mac is back". McCain victory speech Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney came second in the Republican race with 31% compared to Mr McCain's 37%, according to ABC, and conceded defeat. Former Arkansas governor and Baptist minister Mike Huckabee and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani came in with 11% and 9% of the vote for the Republicans, according to ABC projections. Mr Giuliani said he planned to stay in the race and was looking forward to Florida's 29 January primary. Mr McCain has staged an impressive fight back after seeing his campaign nearly derail several months ago. At his campaign headquarters, Mr McCain thanked his supporters, saying: "My friends, you know I'm passed the age where I can claim the noun 'kid', no matter what adjective precedes it. But tonight we sure showed 'em what a comeback looks like." Mr Romney conceded victory and congratulated Mr McCain. "Well another silver... I'd rather have a gold, but I got another silver. "But tonight congratulations go to Senator John McCain for running a first class race. Congratulations for the gold senator, great job, let's give him a round of applause." E-mail this to a friend Printable version