US election at-a-glance: 8 Jan

DAY IN A NUTSHELL

Hillary Clinton beats Barack Obama in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, just five days after finishing third in Iowa. The opinion polls get it spectacularly wrong. On the Republican side John McCain is the clear winner, Mitt Romney comes second again, and Mike Huckabee third.

State profile: New Hampshire

KEY QUOTES

"Over the last week, I listened to you and, in the process, I found my own voice."
Hillary Clinton

Clinton's answers come off as well-intended lectures, Obama is offering soaring sermons and generational opportunity. E. J. Dionne Jr. Washington Post At-a-glance: 7 Jan

"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."
John McCain

"I am still fired up and ready to go."
Barack Obama

"There have been three races so far. I've gotten two silvers and one gold."
Mitt Romney referring to his second-place results in Iowa and New Hampshire, and his first place in the 5 January Wyoming Republican caucus.

"Clinton's answers come off as well-intended lectures, Obama is offering soaring sermons and generational opportunity."
E. J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post.

NUMBER NEWS

Opinion polls released on the day of the election indicated that Barack Obama and John McCain were heading for victory in the New Hampshire primary.

The Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll gave Mr Obama 42% to Hillary Clinton's 29%, and Mr McCain 36% to Mitt Romney's 27%.

The actual results were quite different.

For the Democrats, Mrs Clinton received 39% to Barack Obama's 37% (after 96% of precincts had reported). The polls were closer on the Republican side, with Mr McCain receiving 37% of the vote, compared to Mr Romney's 32%.

Election polltracker

DAILY PICTURE

Hillary Clinton's supporters were in a celebratory mood after her victory in the New Hampshire primary