Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has won the New Hampshire primary, furthering the likelihood that he will be the eventual Republican presidential nominee.
Defying Republican rivals who mounted strong attacks against him in the lead-up to the New Hampshire polls, Romney sped quickly to a solid lead, jumping to 34 percent of the vote in the first hour and settling into 38 percent when three-quarters of the precincts were counted.
“Tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow we go back to work,” a confident Romney told supporters in a carefully crafted speech at Southern New Hampshire University nearly 30 minutes after the polls closed.
Romney, who won the Iowa caucuses by just eight votes, has become the first non-incumbent Republican since 1976 to win both New Hampshire and Iowa, putting him in a strong position for the South Carolina primary next week and later Florida.
Focusing largely on President Obama, Romney couldn’t resist a side swipe at his rivals who did not get as close as in Iowa, but who have all vowed to continue in the GOP race.
“In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him,” Romney said. “This is such a mistake for our party and for our nation. This country already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy.”
Texas Congressman Ron Paul was the surprise of the night, coming in second, with 23 percent of the vote, with three-quarters of the precincts counted.
Exit polling conducted by CNN news highlighted Paul’s continuing appeal to independents, and the young and newer voters as the reason behind his success.
Jon Huntsman, the former governor of Utah, and an Obama-appointed ambassador to China, came in third with 17 percent of the vote.
Huntsman did not contest Iowa, focusing most of his energy in New Hampshire for the last seven months. He had expected to do better but he told supporters at the end of the night that he was still in the race.
“I'd say third place is a ticket to ride, ladies and gentleman. Hello, South Carolina,” he said excitedly.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, popular with Tea Party and evangelical voters in Iowa, tied fourth with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 10 percent.
Both candidates said they would be going on to contest South Carolina, considered a more traditionally conservative state than New Hampshire.
Rick Perry did not campaign in New Hampshire, focusing instead on South Carolina. He gained 1 percent of the vote in New Hampshire.
Friends Read Free