Voters' Views: Stephen Parker

New Hampshire, the first state to vote in a US presidential primary, has made its choice -- and it is a change from Iowa.

Here six residents of the state give us their reaction to the results.

You can also read the panel's pre-primary comments by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

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Stephen Parker
IT worker | Republican

Huckabee and McCain are both decent human beings, evincing the qualities of leadership very much needed by this country.

Age: 44 Lives: Keene Occupation: IT worker Last election voted: Republican In 10 words or less: Single, middle-aged, Catholic American, former submariner, former monk, amateur photographer Voters' Views: New Hampshire

"Governor Huckabee finished third here in New Hampshire, after finishing first in the Iowa caucus. Senator McCain finished first, after taking third place in Iowa.

I see this as a win for Republicans all around, as the clear loser is the second place, fickle Mitt Romney. One can only hope for his speedy elimination altogether. In contrast, Huckabee and McCain are both decent human beings, evincing the qualities of leadership very much needed by this country.

Of course New Hampshire is quite unlike most other states, with a large base of independents and probably quite a bit more both liberal and libertarian than the general populace. When Huckabee and McCain square off in the heartland, Huckabee will pull ahead, I believe.

As for the Democrats, I was surprised to see Clinton win at all, even by a small margin. Support locally is very high for Obama. Perhaps it's all the elderly people; New Hampshire is one of the "greyer" states.

New Hampshire Public Radio has been not-so-subtly gunning for Clinton, and their member base is elderly and liberal. She also has the support of the major media networks and a huge campaign apparatus. So perhaps it's not so surprising. "

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Read the panel's pre-primary comments here

The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider US public opinion.

Your comments:

If this is all we have to choose from we are in serious trouble.
Todd Mondragon, Brookline MA USA

"New Hampshire Public Radio has been not-so-subtly gunning for Clinton, and their member base is elderly and liberal. She also has the support of the major media networks and a huge campaign apparatus. So perhaps it's not so surprising." [Stephen Parker, IT worker] You know that you can take almost any NPR political opinion/comment, reverse it, and be right on the money, don't ya?
Mirek Kondracki , Alexandria, VA

I don't see how this is "a victory for Republicans all around" considering both Clinton and Obama got a heck of a lot more votes than the winning Republican! But I agree that it's good Romney is probably knocked out - what a phoney.
Shawn Hunt, Washington, DC, USA

McCain and Huckabee. One is just like Bush in foreign policy and will keep us in the Middle East forever and the other one will impose his religiosity as much or more than Bush. This is from a grey elderly conservative with a mind that still works and refuses to allow the media to color my opinion about anything, much less choosing our president. Hillary will not be that different from Bush.
R. H. Kommer, Illinois-USA

Why do you look to politicians, of all people, to give you a sense of what it means to be a human being? Why not look to philosophers, writers, religious leaders, and friends and family? Their beliefs and intentions, unlike those of politicians, are not unduly tainted by the desire for money, political gain, and power. Also, of all the candidates in the race, why do you believe that Huckabee is the best person to give you this sense of what it means to be human?
Melissa L, Baltimore, MD

Stephen replies: You are right, of course, that one would look to others first - rather than to a politician - to learn about the nature of humanity. I never suggested otherwise. What I wrote was that, compared to the other candidates, Huckabee had the clearest notion of what it means to be American and to be human. In the struggles ahead, the President will have to be free, his own man, and sure of himself. "Know thyself"; it's classic philosophy. And Huckabee's got it.
Stephen, Keene, NH