New Hampshire vote dawns
08/01/2008 14:47  - (SA)  

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Manchester, New Hampshire - Polls opened in New Hampshire's key presidential primaries on Tuesday with polls showing surging Democrat Barack Obama on the verge of a possible second victory over Hillary Clinton.

Just five days after his Iowa triumph spun momentum into his White House quest, Obama enjoyed a solid lead in New Hampshire and for the first time shattered Clinton's advantage among Democratic voters nationally, polls showed.

In a rare emotional display, Clinton choked back tears on the campaign trail on Monday as the strain of her damaged White House bid showed through.

Republican John McCain meanwhile looked set to lock in his advantage over rival Mitt Romney, who needs a strong showing after coming in a grim second last week in the Iowa caucuses, which launched this year's White House race.

Polls opened in the tiny resort village of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire at midnight (05:00 GMT), and closed minutes later after all 17 of its registered voters had cast ballots, in keeping with an eccentric tradition.

Results written on a board showed Obama with seven votes; former senator with John Edwards with two; and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson one, on the Democratic side.

McCain was the Republican victor with four votes, while Romney took two and former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, one.

There were no votes for Clinton or Iowa Republican victor Mike Huckabee, who has vaulted to pole position among Republicans nationally in the latest polls.

Polls

The latest polls showed Obama as the favourite going into Tuesday's crucial nominating clash, after he beat Clinton into third place in Iowa after John Edwards.

And a national poll by USA Today/Gallup said that Obama and Clinton each drew 33% support from Democrats, compared to an 18-point lead for the former first lady in mid-December, well before Obama's win in Iowa.

New Hampshire's primary meanwhile did not look set to clarify fortunes among the crowded Republican field.

McCain is seen as the favourite here, with national frontrunner Huckabee trailing in third and Giuliani still waiting in the wings to attack in subsequent primaries in more populous states.

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