New Hampshire won by Clinton and McCain

For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton has won New Hampshire, the nation's first primary, with nine delegates and 39% of the vote, while Barack Obama was nipping at her heels with 37% and the same number of delegates. Edwards finished poorly with 17% of primary votes. It was surprising Obama did not win, since pre-primary polls put him 10% ahead of Clinton. The exit polls are very interesting to analyze; Clinton supporters are more traditionally Democratic and have more faith in their candidate than do the supporters of any other candidate on the Democratic side.

My preferred Republican in the race, John McCain, swept New Hampshire with 37% of the vote and seven delegates. He was followed by Romney with 31% and Huckabee with 11%. (You know American politics are in trouble when Ron Paul is polling in nearly double-digits in New Hampshire.)

One under-covered primary was Wyoming's. Romney won it, so he has more delegates than anyone else on the GOP side, 24. He is followed by Huckabee with 18 and McCain with 10. Obama has 25, Clinton 24, and Edwards 18.

Up next is the Michigan primary on 15 January. The Dems will soon have to make a choice, probably between Obama and Clinton (Edwards still has a small chance); the GOP race is still wide open.

Up next: New Hampshire!

New Hampshire primary results should come in tonight. Romney has poured a lot of money into this state; will his losses grow? And what about Giuliani, who snubbed Iowa? Will Obama's Iowa momentum help him against Clinton? And can Edwards, after an impressive second place showing in Iowa, keep up?

All eyes are on the first primary in the 2008 race for the presidency.