Clinton, McCain Pull Off Stunning Upsets

Barack Obama with wife Michelle '85

Nashua, N.H., 1:14 a.m.- Hillary Clinton defeated Barack Obama with a stunning upset in Tuesday night’s New Hampshire primary, breathing new life into her White House bid following her third-place finish in the Iowa Caucus Jan. 3. John McCain took first place in the Republican primary, marking an incredible comeback for a campaign left for dead just weeks ago.

Clinton’s victory in the first-in-the-nation primary marked an impressive comeback following her disappointing third-place finish in the Iowa Caucuses on Jan. 3. The race for the democratic nomination is now a tight one between the former first lady and the freshman Illinois senator.

McCain’s victory on the Republican side left the future of the GOP race uncertain as well.

The night delivered Mitt Romney his second loss of the early primary season. It marked the first time a current or former Massachusetts governor or senator did not win the primary in the neighboring Granite State. The evening set up a rematch between McCain and Romney in the Michigan primary just one week away.

On a day with unusually warm temperatures, New Hampshire voters went to their polling places in record numbers. New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner predicted last week that voters could cast more than 500,000 ballots, shattering the previous record of 396,000 ballots cast in 2000.

With nearly 96 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton beat out Obama 39%-36%, with John Edwards finishing a distant third at 17%. On the Republican side, McCain took 37% to Romney’s 32%. Mike Huckabee, victor in the Iowa Caucuses last Thursday, finished third with 11%.