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| High turnout in crucial US vote | High turnout in crucial US vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Voters have been streaming into polling stations in the key New Hampshire presidential primary, fuelling expectations of a record turnout. | Voters have been streaming into polling stations in the key New Hampshire presidential primary, fuelling expectations of a record turnout. |
| The state secretary, Bill Gardner, has predicted that at least half a million people will cast their ballots. | The state secretary, Bill Gardner, has predicted that at least half a million people will cast their ballots. |
| The first votes counted, and opinion polls, put Barack Obama and John McCain ahead in their respective races. | The first votes counted, and opinion polls, put Barack Obama and John McCain ahead in their respective races. |
| Candidates are aiming to build momentum before more than 20 states hold polls on 5 February, known as Super Tuesday. | |
| Analysts say New Hampshire's large bloc of independents - about 45% of registered voters - could be key to swinging the primary, the second in a series of state-level votes and caucuses through which the parties choose their candidates for the US presidency. | |
| Today you can make your voice heard - you can insist that change will come Barack Obama | |
| Mr Obama, in particular, showed strong appeal at last week's Iowa caucuses among such voters, who are registered as neither Republican nor Democratic. | Mr Obama, in particular, showed strong appeal at last week's Iowa caucuses among such voters, who are registered as neither Republican nor Democratic. |
| While Iowa and New Hampshire - two of the earliest contests - do not necessarily produce a winner, they can boost contenders' chances of winning ahead of primaries in larger states. | While Iowa and New Hampshire - two of the earliest contests - do not necessarily produce a winner, they can boost contenders' chances of winning ahead of primaries in larger states. |
| 'Feeling good' | 'Feeling good' |
| Two tiny hamlets, Dixville Notch and Hart's Location, traditionally the first to vote in New Hampshire, opened their polling stations at midnight giving small, early victories to Mr Obama and Mr McCain. | Two tiny hamlets, Dixville Notch and Hart's Location, traditionally the first to vote in New Hampshire, opened their polling stations at midnight giving small, early victories to Mr Obama and Mr McCain. |
| New Hampshire voters explain who will get their vote in the race for the White House In pictures | New Hampshire voters explain who will get their vote in the race for the White House In pictures |
| Speaking later at a rally at Dartmouth College, Mr Obama told cheering supporters: "Today you can make your voice heard - you can insist that change will come. | Speaking later at a rally at Dartmouth College, Mr Obama told cheering supporters: "Today you can make your voice heard - you can insist that change will come. |
| "The American people have decided for the first time in a very long time to cast aside cynicism, to cast aside fear, to cast aside doubts." | "The American people have decided for the first time in a very long time to cast aside cynicism, to cast aside fear, to cast aside doubts." |
| Most of the rest of the state began voting at 6am local time (1100GMT). Polls close at 8pm (0100GMT Wednesday) and first results are expected shortly afterwards. | Most of the rest of the state began voting at 6am local time (1100GMT). Polls close at 8pm (0100GMT Wednesday) and first results are expected shortly afterwards. |
| An election officer in Manchester told the BBC the atmosphere there was upbeat and busy. | An election officer in Manchester told the BBC the atmosphere there was upbeat and busy. |
| "We have people lining up to come into the polls and we have press here from all over the world. It's a very exciting moment," Christopher Messier said. | "We have people lining up to come into the polls and we have press here from all over the world. It's a very exciting moment," Christopher Messier said. |
| Democrat Senator Hillary Clinton and the Republicans Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee were among the candidates who turned up at polling stations throughout the day in last-minute bids for votes. | Democrat Senator Hillary Clinton and the Republicans Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee were among the candidates who turned up at polling stations throughout the day in last-minute bids for votes. |
| CURRENT KEY DATES 8 Jan: New Hampshire primary15 Jan: Michigan primary19 Jan: Nevada caucuses; South Carolina primary (Rep)26 Jan: South Carolina primary (Dem)29 Jan: Florida primary5 Feb: some 20 states including California, New York, New Jersey Have Your SayAt-a-glance: 8 JanQ&A: US primaries | |
| After finishing third in Iowa, the former first lady Mrs Clinton is trailing Mr Obama by as many as 13 points in one state-wide opinion poll. | After finishing third in Iowa, the former first lady Mrs Clinton is trailing Mr Obama by as many as 13 points in one state-wide opinion poll. |
| Joined by her daughter, Chelsea, and husband, former President Bill Clinton, Mrs Clinton said she was feeling "really good" and was "going to work all day to get the vote out". | Joined by her daughter, Chelsea, and husband, former President Bill Clinton, Mrs Clinton said she was feeling "really good" and was "going to work all day to get the vote out". |
| Excited crowds waited to greet her at a polling station at a school in Concord. Among them were dozens of children, with whom she posed for pictures, as well as local voters. | |
| Mrs Clinton has seen her lead in the polls eclipsed by Mr Obama but has vowed to "go on". | Mrs Clinton has seen her lead in the polls eclipsed by Mr Obama but has vowed to "go on". |
| 'Starting below the bottom' | 'Starting below the bottom' |
| Mr Huckabee, who is currently polling third in the Republican contest, was in a jocular mood, even asking Rudy Giuliani for his vote. | Mr Huckabee, who is currently polling third in the Republican contest, was in a jocular mood, even asking Rudy Giuliani for his vote. |
| "We started below the bottom. For us to come in the top four would be a win for us," said the former Arkansas governor and Baptist minister, who was a virtual unknown until recently. | |
| John McCain has resumed his lead in the pollsArriving at the site moments later, Republican contender Mitt Romney said: "The Republicans will vote for me. The independents will get behind me." | John McCain has resumed his lead in the pollsArriving at the site moments later, Republican contender Mitt Romney said: "The Republicans will vote for me. The independents will get behind me." |
| After a disappointing second-place showing behind Mr Huckabee in Iowa, Mr Romney needs a strong showing in New Hampshire to keep his campaign alive. | After a disappointing second-place showing behind Mr Huckabee in Iowa, Mr Romney needs a strong showing in New Hampshire to keep his campaign alive. |
| Both are threatened by a resurgent Mr McCain who, after seeing his campaign nearly derail last summer, has concentrated much of his time and money on New Hampshire. | Both are threatened by a resurgent Mr McCain who, after seeing his campaign nearly derail last summer, has concentrated much of his time and money on New Hampshire. |
| Other Republican candidates have been looking beyond the New Hampshire primary to focus on states that go to the polls later. | Other Republican candidates have been looking beyond the New Hampshire primary to focus on states that go to the polls later. |
| Former New York mayor Mr Giuliani has been focusing on Florida's 29 January contest, hoping to gain momentum going into Super Tuesday. | Former New York mayor Mr Giuliani has been focusing on Florida's 29 January contest, hoping to gain momentum going into Super Tuesday. |
| Actor and former Senator Fred Thompson has been campaigning in South Carolina, where Republicans vote on 19 January. | Actor and former Senator Fred Thompson has been campaigning in South Carolina, where Republicans vote on 19 January. |
| You can watch live coverage of the results in the New Hampshire primary on the BBC News website from 2000 (0100 GMT) | You can watch live coverage of the results in the New Hampshire primary on the BBC News website from 2000 (0100 GMT) |