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Primary comebacks ignite US race Primary comebacks ignite US race
(about 1 hour later)
Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Clinton defied pundits and pollsters by winning New Hampshire's primary, beating rival Barack Obama. The US presidential race has been left wide open after Hillary Clinton and John McCain both rebounded to win victories in the New Hampshire primary.
John McCain made his own remarkable political comeback with a comfortable win in the Republican contest. It appeared that Mrs Clinton's campaign benefited from a surge among women voters, while fewer young voters turned out for Democratic rival Barack Obama.
In a night of high political drama, turnout was nearly half a million - more than double the number in 2004. John McCain appealed to New Hampshire's independent voters but his victory leaves no clear Republican frontrunner.
Attention will now focus on Michigan, Nevada, South Carolina and Florida.
Candidates are aiming to build momentum before more than 20 states hold polls on 5 February, known as Super Tuesday.Candidates are aiming to build momentum before more than 20 states hold polls on 5 February, known as Super Tuesday.
New York Senator Clinton, 60, told CNN on Wednesday morning: "I really believed that I had a very good chance - nobody else believed it - but I did, and I'm very grateful to the people of New Hampshire for giving me that victory last night." Extraordinary moment
Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton's victory defied pundits and pollsters alike. Correspondents say the result leaves Mrs Clinton and Barack Obama essentially tied.
KEY DATES AHEAD 15 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 New Hampshire: Key quotesQ&A: US primariesBlog: Clinton's surprise?
They take their fight now to Nevada where Mr Obama has just won an important union endorsement and, crucially, to South Carolina, where black people make up half of the Democratic primary electorate.
Democratic candidate John Edwards might also poll well in South Carolina where he was born, splitting the anti-Clinton vote, says BBC North America editor Justin Webb.
Mr Edwards, who came third in the contest, reminded supporters in Manchester, New Hampshire, that there were "48 states left to go".
On the Republican side, the win for John McCain also throws a spotlight on South Carolina where the Iowa victor, Mike Huckabee, could rebound, buoyed by evangelical Christians who have been his firmest supporters, says our correspondent.
ResurrectionResurrection
Her rebound echoed that by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who in New Hampshire's primary of 1992 called himself the "comeback kid" when his own faltering White House bid was resurrected by a strong, second place finish in the state. Mrs Clinton's rebound echoed that by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who in New Hampshire's primary in 1992 called himself the "comeback kid" when his faltering White House bid was resurrected by a strong, second-place finish.
Core voters win it for ClintonTale of two comebacksUS voters' views class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4012&edition=1">Send us your comments Core voters win it for ClintonTale of two comebacksUS voters' views
Polling station interviews suggested female voters, who deserted Mrs Clinton last week in Iowa, and registered Democrats helped sweep her to victory, overcoming Senator Obama's advantage among New Hampshire's independent voters.
Mr Obama, a 46-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, said: "I want to congratulate Senator Clinton on a hard fought victory. She did an outstanding job."
He had gone into the vote with leads of up to 13 points in opinion polls following his impressive win in Thursday's Iowa caucuses, having trailed Mrs Clinton for much of the campaign.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the stage is now set for a remarkable toe-to-toe fight for the Democratic nomination.
The contest will pit the experience and financial muscle of the Clinton campaign against the Obama camp's transformational message, says our correspondent.
Clinton aides said her win may be down to an extraordinary moment on Monday when she appeared close to tears as she talked about how much public service meant to her.Clinton aides said her win may be down to an extraordinary moment on Monday when she appeared close to tears as she talked about how much public service meant to her.
John Edwards, who came third in the Democrat contest, reminded supporters in Manchester, New Hampshire, that there were "48 states left to go". Exit polls suggested female voters, who deserted Mrs Clinton last week in Iowa, and registered Democrats helped sweep her to victory, overcoming Mr Obama's advantage among New Hampshire's independent voters.
Resurgent Republican The 46-year-old first-term senator from Illinois had gone into the vote with leads of up to 13 points in opinion polls after his impressive win in last week's Iowa caucuses, having trailed Mrs Clinton for much of the campaign.
In the Republican race, Arizona Senator McCain rode to victory, taking 37% of the vote to beat his higher spending rival Mitt Romney into second place with 32%.In the Republican race, Arizona Senator McCain rode to victory, taking 37% of the vote to beat his higher spending rival Mitt Romney into second place with 32%.
Ex-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.Ex-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.
McCain supporters chanted "Mac is back, Mac is back". href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7170000/newsid_7178200?redirect=7178243.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">McCain victory speech class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/">Blog: Clinton's surprise? class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7177436.stm">In pictures: N Hampshire vote Mr McCain, a 71-year-old former Vietnam prisoner of war, thanked his supporters, saying: "I'm past the age where I can claim the noun 'kid', no matter what adjective precedes it. But tonight we sure showed them what a comeback looks like."
Triumph for Mr McCain, a 71-year-old former Vietnam prisoner of war who has promised voters to "follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell", put him firmly back in contention for the White House, said correspondents. McCain supporters chanted "Mac is back, Mac is back" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7170000/newsid_7178200?redirect=7178243.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">McCain victory speech
He thanked his supporters, saying: "My friends, you know I'm past 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." He had been the frontrunner until his campaign ran out of steam last year when his support evaporated, analysts said, because of his support for the Iraq war.
Mr McCain had been the front-runner until his campaign ran out of steam last year when his funds and support evaporated, analysts said, down to his unflinching support for the Iraq war. Meanwhile, Mr Romney faces a tough challenge to bounce back from his Iowa and New Hampshire defeats, states where he far outspent his opponents.
Former Massachusetts governor Mr Romney congratulated Mr McCain and said: "Well another silver... I'd rather have a gold, but I got another silver. Mr Giuliani - who analysts say has yet to fully enter the fray - has focused his efforts on Florida's 29 January primary.
The BBC's James Coomarasamy in New Hampshire says a wounded Mr Romney must now bounce back from his Iowa and New Hampshire defeats, states where he far outspent his opponents. Mr Huckabee will take heart from his third place finish in a state where he was never expected to do well, say correspondent.
KEY DATES AHEAD 15 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 New Hampshire: Key quotesQ&A: US primaries
Mr Giuliani - who analysts say has yet to fully enter the fray - said he was looking forward to Florida's 29 January primary.
Mr Huckabee will take heart from his third place finish in a state where he was never expected to do well, our correspondent says.
The election battle now gathers pace, with Michigan holding its primary next Tuesday and Nevada its caucuses on 19 January.
And the next big contests are set for South Carolina, where Republicans hold their primary on 19 January with the Democrats in the state making their choice a week later on 26 January.
Analysts say South Carolina's large bloc of black Democratic voters is likely to go for Mr Obama, who aims to become the first black US president.