Republican presidential hopeful former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, becoming the first non-incumbent Republican presidential candidate to win both the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire presidential primary.
With 92 percent of all votes counted, Romney led with 39.3 percent, followed by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas with 22.9 percent. Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah stood in third with 16.9 percent.
As Tuesday turned into Wednesday, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania were battling for fourth, with Gingrich taking 9.4 percent fo Santorum's 9.3 percent -- a numerical difference of fewer than 200 votes out of a total of about 230,000 cast.
Gov. Rick Perry of Texas took a distant sixth with 1 percent.
Networks and news agencies called the contest for Romney right after 8 pm when all polls closed in the Granite State. Romney took to the stage in Manchester right afterward to address supporters.
Tonight, we made history, Romney, who finished second in the Granite State in 2008 behind John McCain, told a cheering crowd.
In his victory speech, Romney called out President Barack Obama.
Romney took aim at the Democratic incumbents record on the economy and attacking his failed leadership.
Romney made a pitch to South Carolina voters, asking them to back his campaign and reject Obama and his Republican rivals. The former Massachusetts governor attempted to contrast himself with Obama, insisting the president is inspired by European-style socialism and supportsd big government while Romney insisted he believes in American exceptionalism and the free market.
The president has run out of ideas, said Romney. Now he is running out of excuses.
Paul, who placed a solid third in Iowa, said Romney had a clear victory in New Hampshire but added there was another win on Tuesday night.
We have had a victory for the cause of liberty tonight, Paul said. The maverick Texas congressman insisted that ending the Federal Reserve will remain a dominant issue in the campaign.
Paul will head to South Carolina on Wednesday where he will hold a rally in West Columbia.
Having focused heavily on New Hampshire, even noting that nobody else even came close" to the 170 events he held in the Granite State, Huntsman attempted to claim momentum despite his third place finish.
I think were in the hunt, Huntsman maintained. I say third place is a ticket to ride.
Talking to supporters, Huntsman repeated his recent campaign slogan of country first and focused on foreign policy, arguing that the U.S. can no longer afford military operations like those in Afghanistan. He also pushed congressional term limits, insisting there was a trust deficit in America.
Huntsman also insisted that he will compete in the Palmetto State. Hello, South Carolina, he told cheering supporters.
Following his strong showing in Iowa, where he lost to Romney by eight votes, Santorum insisted that he was satisfied with his performance, though he knew New Hampshire would be a little tougher.
Santorum told his supporters on Tuesday night that it was important to bring his social conservative message to the Granite State.
We built this campaign here in New Hampshire in a short period of time, Santorum maintained.
Santorum said his campaign would go on to South Carolina. We have an opportunity in this race, Santorum told his supporters. We have the opportunity to be the true conservative in this race ... and to win this race.
Gingrich also insisted he was on to South Carolina.
This is step two in a long process, Gingrich told his supporters in New Hampshire on Tuesday night. This campaign is going to go on to South Carolina.
The Gingrich camp served notice that they intend to attack Romney in South Carolina, releasing ads attacking him in the Palmetto State.
Michael Krull, Gingrichs campaign manager, sent out a message to supporters on Tuesday night as the results came in.
Tonight kicks off a critical time where conservatives must unite behind a single candidate, or be stuck with a timid Massachusetts moderate who will struggle to draw a sharp distinction with President Obama on key issues like healthcare, taxes, and life, Krull wrote. Governor Mitt Romney has been running in New Hampshire for nearly six years, and the media is certain to overplay the results no matter the outcome. But this much is certain: it is time for a true Reagan conservative to rise to the occasion and become the Republican standard bearer. That conservative is Newt Gingrich.
We have between now and South Carolina to make our case to the voters that Newt Gingrich is not only the candidate who can beat Mitt Romney for the nomination. He's the candidate who can defeat Barack Obama in November.
Perry shrugged off the results and maintained he will do much better in South Carolina. After placing fifth in Iowa, the Texas governor headed to South Carolina and ignored New Hampshire.
"Tonight's results in New Hampshire show the race for 'conservative alternative' to Mitt Romney remains wide open, Perry insisted in a statement. I skipped New Hampshire and aimed my campaign right at conservative South Carolina, where we've been campaigning hard and receiving an enthusiastic welcome. I believe being the only non-establishment outsider in the race, the proven fiscal and social conservative and proven job creator will win the day in South Carolina.
"South Carolina is the next stop, Perry added. I have a head start here, and it's friendly territory for a Texas governor and veteran with solid outsider credentials, the nation's best record of job creation, and solid fiscal, social and tea party conservatism."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
