CONCORD, N.H., Jan. 8 John McCain was projected the Republican winner over Mitt Romney in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary Tuesday night.
With 12 percent of precincts reporting, CNN said the Arizona senator appeared to have won the election with 37 percent of the vote, while Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, had 28 percent and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa Republican caucuses last week, trailed with 12 percent. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Texas Congressman Ron Paul followed with 9 percent each and Fred Thompson, a former Tennessee senator had 1 percent, CNN said.
Among Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York had a narrow lead over Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, 40 percent to 36 percent in early returns, but the race was said too close to call. Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina had 17 percent support, according to CNN.
Obama, who scored a surprise victory in last week's Iowa caucuses, got in some last-minute campaigning in a bid to cement his front-runner status over Clinton, who finished third in Iowa behind Obama and Edwards.
New Hampshire voters were reported to have turned out in record numbers to kick off the presidential primary season. The Manchester (N.H.) Union-Leader said 500,000 Granite State residents -- more than half the state population -- were expected to cast ballots in the first presidential sweepstakes without an incumbent or sitting vice president in the mix in years. The previous high turnout was 396,000 in 1992.
Copyright 2008 by UPI
