Clinton defies polls

HILLARY CLINTON made a dramatic last-minute comeback to win the Democrats' New Hampshire primary by a narrow margin over rival Barack Obama.

The surprise victory – just days after Obama's triumph in Iowa, where Clinton ended in humiliating third place – has revived the former First Lady's campaign to return to the White House.

The Republican primary in New Hampshire was won by Arizona senator John McCain, who had been virtually written off last summer. He beat Mitt Romney, the Mormon former governor of Massachusetts, who had spent millions of his own money trying to win.

Polls after the Iowa caucuses had shown Obama surging ahead in New Hampshire and even exit surveys yesterday suggested he was on course for a second victory.

But in the end Clinton emerged with 39 per cent to Obama's 36 per cent, with former vice-presidential candidate John Edwards on 17 per cent.

After hugging her husband, former president Bill Clinton, and daughter Chelsea on stage, Mrs Clinton said: "I come tonight with a very, very full heart and I want especially to thank New Hampshire. Over the last week I listened to you and in the process I found my own voice."

On Monday, she fought back tears in a New Hampshire cafe as her campaign looked set for a second defeat in a week.

The New York senator said: "I felt like we all spoke from our hearts and I'm so gratified that you responded. Now together let's give America the kind of comeback that New Hampshire has just given me."

Conceding defeat, Mr Obama repeatedly thanked his supporters and said: "I am still fired up and ready to go.

"A few weeks ago, no-one imagined that we'd have accomplished what we did here tonight in New Hampshire.

"For most of this campaign we were far behind we always knew our climb would be steep.

"But in record numbers you came out and you spoke up for change and with your voices and your votes you made it clear that at this moment in this election there is something happening in America."

Clinton aides claimed her victory was partly down to people seeing her softer side.

Analysis showed she had 46 per cent support among women to Obama's 34 per cent – a reversal of the situation in Iowa.

And Obama's lead over Clinton among young people – which had been four to one in Iowa – was reduced to two to one.

In the Republican contest, McCain won 37 per cent of the votes, Romney 32 per cent, former Arkansas governor and Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee took 11 per cent and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani nine per cent.

McCain's victory speech at his campaign headquarters in Nashua, New Hampshire, was punctuated with supporters chanting: "Mac is back".

The 71-year-old said: "I'm past the age when I can claim the noun 'kid', no matter what adjective precedes it, but tonight, we sure showed them what a comeback looks like."

Mr McCain said he was "grateful and humbled" by his victory.

He said: "We have taken a step, but only the first step, toward repairing the broken politics of the past and restoring the trust of the American people in their government."

The Democrat race now moves on to Nevada, where caucuses will be held on January 19 and the South Carolina primary a week later. The Republicans' next contest is in Michigan next Tuesday.