NASHUA, N.H. — Republican John McCain, senator from Arizona, and Democrat Hillary Clinton, senator from New York, won their parties’ nominations for president in the New Hampshire primaries on Tuesday.
“Tonight,” McCain told a cheering crowd, “we sure showed them what a comeback looks like.”
At her victory celebration, Clinton used a similar line in thanking New Hampshire voters: “We came back because of you.”
For the Republicans, McCain finished in first with (37) percent of the vote. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney finished second with (31) percent and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee finished third with (11) percent.
For the Democrats, the vote shaped up with Clinton leading with (39) percent. Illinois Sen. Barrack Obama finished second with (37) and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards finished third with (17) percent.
At the Nashua Crown Plaza, McCain took the stage grinning as supporters chanted “Mac is bac.” f His speech, thanking New Hampshire for its votes, was met with thunderous cheers and a sea of waving American flags.
Earlier in the day, the campaigns went into high gear with last-minute campaigning. For example, Democrat Dennis Kucinich, the Ohio congressman who has trailed in the contests, was making stops at polling places. At Charlotte Avenue Elementary School, Kucinich chatted with voters heading into the polls.
“We’re making an effort,” Kucinich told The Sun. “We’ve got our supporters out all over the state.” He is hopeful, Kucinich said, that his support of the Constitution, his pledge to hold top officials accountable and his opposition to the Iraq war will resonate with New Hampshire’s independent voters.
At the polls on Tuesday, voters celebrated a break in chilly weather with 60 degrees and sunshine. Both winning candidates were popular among voters.
Valerie Kidder voted for McCain at Broad Street Elementary School in Nashua. Kidder is the owner of a hearing aid distribution company. She voted for McCain, Kidder said, not because of his stances on business but on issues such as immigration and health care. McCain’s support of the troops in Iraq was a large factor in her decision, Kidder said.
“I’m not for or against the war but I believe we have to support our troops,” said Kidder. “He’s one of the ones that still supports the troops.”
At Amherst Avenue Elementary School in Nashua, Cosette Batis, a retired legal secretary, came out to vote for Clinton. For her, Clinton was an obvious choice because, Batis said, she agrees with Clinton on almost every issue. But, she said, Clinton’s experience was her deciding factor.
“I firmly believe she has the most experience,” Batis said.
For many voters in Nashua, health care and education reform were important issues when choosing a candidate. They were for Daniele Lacovara when she cast her vote for Clinton at Amherst Avenue Elementary School in Nashua. Lacovara is a councilor at the Nashua Children’s Home and says that her work with children prompted her to have particular concern for health care and education. She was torn, she said, between Obama and Clinton but settled on Clinton.
“I think I would be happy if any of the Democrats won,” Lacovara said. “But I really hope it’s Hillary.”
The vote Tuesday came as a relief to some New Hampshire voters. David Boyce came out to vote for Republican Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York, N.Y., at Broad Street Elementary in Nashua. Boyce is an independent but joked that he’s a recovering Republican on the “12 step program.” Boyce, who works in the ad department at The Nashua Telegraph, said he’s always been active in voting but will be happy to see the end of the hectic primary season.
Quipped Boyce: “I’m ready to vote for Britney Spears if it ends all this.”
(Liam Migdail-Smith, a magazine sophomore, is covering the New Hampshire primaries for The Westerly Sun.)
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