Comeback candidates Hillary Clinton and John McCain defied the odds and emerged victorious from Tuesday’s New Hampshire primaries, heralding a long and unpredictable nomination process for both Democrats and Republicans in the lead up to the 2008 presidential election.
Like the Iowa caucuses, there was a record turnout at the New Hampshire primaries, with over half a million residents casting their votes.
The stunning upset delivered by Democratic Senator Clinton of New York had seemed all but impossible only hours earlier. Few thought she would have time to rebound after placing a devastating third in the Iowa caucus only five days earlier. Recent polls also placed her second in New Hampshire by a double-digit margin.
Yet with the votes counted, Senator Clinton prevailed with 39 percent of the Democratic vote, compared to Senator Barack Obama’s (Ill.) 36 percent and former Senator John Edwards’ (N.C.) 17 percent.
“Over the last week, I listened to you, and in the process I found my own voice,” said Senator Clinton, acknowledging her shift to a more personable campaigning style. “I am so grateful that you responded. Now together, let's give America the kind of comeback that you gave me tonight."
Senator Clinton rode a wave of support from women voters and 45 percent of registered Democrats, stemming the bleed of her core political base to main rival Senator Obama. She also picked up nearly a third of independent voters, compared to Senator Obama’s 40 percent.
Republican presidential hopeful Senator McCain of Arizona, written off long ago as an ‘also ran’ candidate by many political pundits, recently revived his presidential bid with the help of independent voters – who also propelled him to victory in the 2000 New Hampshire Republican primary.
For the past month he has campaigned and advertised almost exclusively in the GraniteState, and managed to enter this primary as the favorite.
At the end of the evening, Senator McCain claimed victory with 37 percent of the Republican vote, ahead of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney’s 32 percent, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee’s 11 percent and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani’s 9 percent.
Cheered on by supporters chanting “Mac is back!”, Mr McCain seemed to relish his ‘comeback kid’ status.
“My friends, you know I’m past the age when I can claim the noun ‘kid’ – no matter what adjective precedes it,” said a beaming Senator McCain.“But tonight, we sure showed them what a comeback looks like.”
Senator McCain has also recently emerged as the new national frontrunner for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination with 22 percent of GOP voters’ support, according to a poll released last week by the PewResearchCenter.
Candidates of both parties will now need to decide where to concentrate their resources for the quick succession of state contests that lay immediately ahead.
Nevada, South Carolina and Florida are among the states who will hold their primaries later this month.
Yet the main candidates are expected to compete most fiercely in the larger primaries that can deliver the largest number of national convention delegates.
These include California and New York, who are among 24 states that will hold their caucuses and primaries on February 5.
