Long Night, New Winners in New Hampshire

Last call...

It's just past midnight and things are wrapping up in New Hampshire and here at NPR headquarters in Washington.

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, a Republican, emerged as winners at this particular landmark in the race for the White House -- Clinton leading with 39 percent of the vote among Democrats, McCain with 37 percent among Republicans.

As with Iowa, tonight's results leave little room for any of the candidates to truly feel comfortable in his or her pursuit for the Presidency. Despite polls showing Sen. Barack Obama leading his party, Clinton was able to come from behind after being mightily defeated in Iowa. And, although McCain did ease a win in New Hampshire, the majority of his support, according to exit polls, did not come from his party's core, conservative Republicans -- former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, technically, won the conservative vote in New Hampshire with 38 percent, compared to McCain's 31 percent. A similar, but slightly different, outcome is true for Clinton and Obama -- Obama was the clear winner among the state's voters identifying as Independent with 43 percent, compared to Clinton's 31 percent.

So, what shall we say to these things? Or, more appropriately, is it safe to say anything?...

For some candidates the outcome of this race could mean everything to their ambitions (Democratic Senators Joe Biden and Christopher Dodd bowed out after Iowa). For others, it might not mean quite as much ... just more fuel for the road ahead (Clearly, after a third-place showing in Iowa, Sen. Clinton is shaking off naysayers).

It's still very early. We'll just have to wait and see.

We are, of course, still interested in knowing your thoughts. Tell us what you think about the results in New Hampshire and, if presidential primaries have not yet happened in your state, how voters in New Hampshire (and Iowa, for that matter) might affect how you approach casting your vote.

Good night. We'll meet you here, as we normally would, tomorrow ... and in South Carolina for the primaries there.

Lee Hill

12:52 AM ET | 01- 9-2008 | permalink

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12:52 AM ET | 01- 9-2008 | permalink