For Clinton and McCain, a New Hampshire revival

Results in the Granite State mean frontrunners in both parties will continue to duke it out for the nomination.

By Ariel Sabar | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

posted January 9, 2008 at 6:20 am EST

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CONCORD, N.H. - Voters in the New Hampshire primaries sent a message to the country Tuesday: The show's not over.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton edged out Sen. Barack Obama with the help of women voters, roaring back from defeat in Iowa and denying Mr. Obama back-to-back wins that would have smoothed his path to the Democratic nomination.

In the Republican race, Sen. John McCain coasted to victory in a state that had endorsed his independence and straight-shooting style in the 2000 primary and did so again Tuesday. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was runner-up for the second time in a week in states he had staked his campaign on winning.

Senator Clinton's upset followed a third-place finish in Iowa and polls Sunday showing her as many as 10 percentage points behind Obama in New Hampshire. Reports circulated Tuesday of an imminent staff shake-up.

Analysts were at a loss to fully explain the turnaround but said she may have benefited from any number of factors: a strong get-out-the-vote drive by local unions, a teary moment on the campaign trail Monday, or new sympathy for her after a rough-and-tumble debate Saturday.

Women in Iowa narrowly favored Obama, but 47 percent of women here voted for Clinton, versus 34 percent for Obama, according to exit polls. Clinton was also the favorite of registered Democrats, older voters, and residents of working-class enclaves like Manchester, the state's largest city. With fewer young voters in the mix and Senator McCain siphoning off independents, Obama was unable to sustain the momentum of his surprise win in Iowa.

The Democratic results Tuesday set up a clear two-person race between Obama and Clinton ahead of contests in Nevada, Michigan, and South Carolina, analysts say.

McCain's victory revives his campaign. But with limited money and stiff challenges in other states, it does little to clarify the race for the Republican nomination.

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Voting time: New Hampshire residents cast their ballots in the New Hampshire primary. Mary Knox Merrill - staff