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| High turnout in crucial US vote | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| 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 ballot. | |
| 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 20 states hold their elections on 5 February, known as Super Tuesday. | Candidates are aiming to build momentum before 20 states hold their elections on 5 February, known as Super Tuesday. |
| 'Starting below the bottom' | 'Starting below the bottom' |
| 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 |
| Most of the rest of the state began voting at 6am local time (1100GMT). | 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. | Polls close at 8pm (0100GMT Wednesday) and first results are expected shortly afterwards. |
| New York Senator Clinton, Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee were among the candidates who turned up at polling stations as they opened in a last-minute bid for votes. | New York Senator Clinton, Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee were among the candidates who turned up at polling stations as they opened in a last-minute bid for votes. |
| "We started below the bottom. For us to come in the top four would be a win for us," said Mr Huckabee, who was a virtual unknown just a few months ago. | "We started below the bottom. For us to come in the top four would be a win for us," said Mr Huckabee, who was a virtual unknown just a few months ago. |
| Arriving at the site moments later, Mr Romney said: "The Republicans will vote for me. The independents will get behind me." | Arriving at the site moments later, Mr Romney said: "The Republicans will vote for me. The independents will get behind me." |
| John McCain has resumed his lead in the pollsAfter a disappointing second-place showing behind Mr Huckabee in last week's Iowa's caucuses - the opening battle of the primary season - Mr Romney needs a strong showing in New Hampshire to keep his campaign alive. | John McCain has resumed his lead in the pollsAfter a disappointing second-place showing behind Mr Huckabee in last week's Iowa's caucuses - the opening battle of the primary season - Mr Romney needs a strong showing in New Hampshire to keep his campaign alive. |
| Opinion polls indicate that Mr Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and Baptist minister, is polling third. | Opinion polls indicate that Mr Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and Baptist minister, is polling third. |
| 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 New Hampshire primary to focus on states that go to the polls later. | Other Republican candidates have been looking beyond New Hampshire primary to focus on states that go to the polls later. |
| Obama's wave | Obama's wave |
| 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. |
| Former first lady Mrs Clinton visited a polling station in Manchester with her daughter Chelsea. Asked how she was feeling, Mrs Clinton said "really good". | Former first lady Mrs Clinton visited a polling station in Manchester with her daughter Chelsea. Asked how she was feeling, Mrs Clinton said "really good". |
| CURRENT KEY DATES 3 Jan: Iowa caucuses8 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 SayPrimary and caucus datesQ&A: US primaries | CURRENT KEY DATES 3 Jan: Iowa caucuses8 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 SayPrimary and caucus datesQ&A: US primaries |
| In a rare emotional display on Monday, her voice had trembled as she told a group of undecided New Hampshire voters in a coffee shop that politics for her was personal. | In a rare emotional display on Monday, her voice had trembled as she told a group of undecided New Hampshire voters in a coffee shop that politics for her was personal. |
| "It's not easy, and I could not do it if I just didn't passionately believe it was the right thing to do," she said. | "It's not easy, and I could not do it if I just didn't passionately believe it was the right thing to do," she said. |
| "I have so many opportunities from this country, I just don't want us to fall backwards." | "I have so many opportunities from this country, I just don't want us to fall backwards." |
| She has seen her lead in the polls eclipsed by Mr Obama who told cheering supporters in Claremont, New Hampshire, that "you're the wave and I'm riding it". | She has seen her lead in the polls eclipsed by Mr Obama who told cheering supporters in Claremont, New Hampshire, that "you're the wave and I'm riding it". |
| Analysts say New Hampshire's large bloc of independents - about 45% of registered voters - could be key to swinging the primary. | Analysts say New Hampshire's large bloc of independents - about 45% of registered voters - could be key to swinging the primary. |
| Mr Obama, in particular, showed strong appeal at Iowa's caucuses among such voters, who are registered as neither Republican nor Democratic. | Mr Obama, in particular, showed strong appeal at Iowa's 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 from either campaign, they can boost contenders' chances ahead of primaries in larger states. | While Iowa and New Hampshire - two of the earliest contests - do not necessarily produce a winner from either campaign, they can boost contenders' chances ahead of primaries in larger states. |
| You can watch live coverage of the results in the New Hampshire primary on the BBC News website from 2000 (0100 GMT) |