Romney Wins G.O.P. Primary in New Hampshire
Jim Wilson/The New York Times
Mitt Romney spoke during his primary night rally with
members of his family at Southern New Hampshire University in
Manchester, N.H. More Photos »
By JEFF ZELENY
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Mitt Romney
swept to victory in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, turning back a
ferocious assault from his Republican rivals who sought to slow his
march to the Republican presidential nomination and disqualify him in
the eyes of conservatives.
Multimedia
A week after winning the Iowa caucuses by just eight votes, Mr. Romney became the first Republican candidate since 1976 to win the first two Republican contests. In accepting victory, he delivered a pointed message to his Republican challengers, urging them not to play into President Obama’s hands by trying to destroy his candidacy as the race moves onto the more challenging terrain of South Carolina.
“In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him,” Mr. Romney said. “This is such a mistake for our party and for our nation. This country already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy.”
Representative Ron Paul of Texas came in second place, and former Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. of Utah was third.
Mr. Romney, who owns a house in the state and spent four years as the governor of neighboring Massachusetts, was considered a favorite son here. The outcome was not only a measure of strength for Mr. Romney, but also a test for challengers seeking a strong performance to propel them into the South Carolina primary.
The New Hampshire contest was critical for Mr. Huntsman, who staked his entire candidacy on the state’s primary. Mr. Paul, whose supporters dominated others in waving signs and banners on street corners throughout the day, was competing with Mr. Huntsman for independent voters, allowed to vote in either primary, who joined Republicans in helping to select a nominee to challenge President Obama.
Rick Santorum was hoping that his strong finish in Iowa, where he lost to Mr. Romney by eight votes, would give him additional momentum in New Hampshire. And Newt Gingrich played down his expectations here on Tuesday and was looking ahead to his arrival in South Carolina on Wednesday.
The advantages for Mr. Romney here were abundant, but there was one obstacle that loomed larger than any of his Republican rivals: The inclination of New Hampshire to knock a front-runner down to size. He urged voters to make him the first candidate to win the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
“If I am president of the United States,” he said, “I will not forget New Hampshire.”
The preliminary results of surveys of voters leaving the polls found that nearly half of the primary voters on Tuesday identify themselves as independents — or something else — and half consider themselves Republican.
Half of the voters said they were conservative on most political matters, according to surveys of voters, while one-third said they were moderate. Only one in five voters said they were very conservative, and about one in 10 primary voters characterized themselves as liberal.
In interviews at polling places across the state on Tuesday, voters acknowledged a degree of uncertainty in their choices. Several Republican voters said they were unsure who could accomplish the ultimate goal of winning back the White House.
According to preliminary exit polls, nearly half of New Hampshire voters had made up their minds within the last few days. Two in 10 said they were undecided until Primary Day.
Fiscal conservatives outnumbered social conservatives in New Hampshire’s primary, according to preliminary exit polls, with about two-thirds of voters saying they were conservative on taxes and spending. Only about four in 10 said they were conservative on social issues like gay marriage or abortion.
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