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| US rivals clash in key TV debates | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US presidential candidates have begun key television debates in New Hampshire, three days before primary polls in the north-east state. | |
| Six Republicans have begun their debate while four Democrats will hold their confrontation at 0200. | |
| The Democrat debate is the first clash between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama since Mr Obama's Iowa victory. | The Democrat debate is the first clash between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama since Mr Obama's Iowa victory. |
| Meanwhile Massachusetts ex-Governor Mitt Romney won a morale boost, taking the Republican caucus in Wyoming. | Meanwhile Massachusetts ex-Governor Mitt Romney won a morale boost, taking the Republican caucus in Wyoming. |
| Mr Romney is also closing the gap in New Hampshire on veteran Arizona Senator John McCain as he seeks to recover from coming a poor second in Iowa. | Mr Romney is also closing the gap in New Hampshire on veteran Arizona Senator John McCain as he seeks to recover from coming a poor second in Iowa. |
| Latest polls suggest that Mrs Clinton's lead in New Hampshire may be shrinking. | Latest polls suggest that Mrs Clinton's lead in New Hampshire may be shrinking. |
| A Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll on Saturday gave Mrs Clinton 32% to Senator Obama's 28%. | A Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll on Saturday gave Mrs Clinton 32% to Senator Obama's 28%. |
| Mr Obama - a 46-year-old first-term senator from Illinois who aims to become the first US black president - and Republican Mike Huckabee emerged victorious in the Iowa caucuses in the first contest of the 2008 election. | Mr Obama - a 46-year-old first-term senator from Illinois who aims to become the first US black president - and Republican Mike Huckabee emerged victorious in the Iowa caucuses in the first contest of the 2008 election. |
| Iowa and New Hampshire may not necessarily produce a winner from either campaign, but could boost contenders' chances ahead of primaries in larger states. | Iowa and New Hampshire may not necessarily produce a winner from either campaign, but could boost contenders' chances ahead of primaries in larger states. |
| Reduced field | Reduced field |
| Both debates in New Hampshire are being organised and broadcast by ABC television. | Both debates in New Hampshire are being organised and broadcast by ABC television. |
| Mr Romney is hoping to boost his campaign after coming a disappointing second in Iowa to Mr Huckabee. | |
| John McCain leads the Republican field in New Hampshire | John McCain leads the Republican field in New Hampshire |
| They are joined by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is focusing his campaign on larger states which vote later in the campaign, anti-war candidate Ron Paul, actor and former Senator Fred Thompson and Senator John McCain. | They are joined by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is focusing his campaign on larger states which vote later in the campaign, anti-war candidate Ron Paul, actor and former Senator Fred Thompson and Senator John McCain. |
| The field for the Democratic debate was reduced when Senators Joe Biden and Chris Dodd pulled out of the campaign after a poor showing in Iowa. | The field for the Democratic debate was reduced when Senators Joe Biden and Chris Dodd pulled out of the campaign after a poor showing in Iowa. |
| Two others, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel, were excluded because they failed to finish in the top four in Iowa and have consistently polled below 5% in New Hampshire and national polls. | Two others, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel, were excluded because they failed to finish in the top four in Iowa and have consistently polled below 5% in New Hampshire and national polls. |
| Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama will be joined by John Edwards, who came second in Iowa, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. | Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama will be joined by John Edwards, who came second in Iowa, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. |
| Mr Obama has drawn crowds in New Hampshire with a message of change, but Mrs Clinton is hoping to make up for a disappointing third place in Iowa and re-establish herself as the leading Democrat. | Mr Obama has drawn crowds in New Hampshire with a message of change, but Mrs Clinton is hoping to make up for a disappointing third place in Iowa and re-establish herself as the leading Democrat. |
| The parties will not formally select their candidates until their presidential conventions in August and September, although the nominees are likely to be determined well before then. | The parties will not formally select their candidates until their presidential conventions in August and September, although the nominees are likely to be determined well before then. |
| The eventual winner will replace President George W Bush, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. | The eventual winner will replace President George W Bush, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. |
| Analysts say the 2008 campaign is the most open race in more than 50 years, with no sitting president or vice president seeking their party's nomination. | Analysts say the 2008 campaign is the most open race in more than 50 years, with no sitting president or vice president seeking their party's nomination. |