Defying the polls and the media hype, Sen. Hillary Clinton defeated Sen. Barack Obama by three points last night in the New Hampshire Democratic primary. John Edwards came in a distant third, and Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Gov. Bill Richardson rounded out the pack.
With strong support from labor and advocacy groups like anti-gun violence Emily's List and the National Organization for Women combined with a savvy campaign, Clinton turned the tables on the corporate media which had all but counted her out.
Voter turnout in New Hampshire reached record numbers, as it had done in Iowa five days before. About 500,000 of the state's 850,000 registered voters came out. The state elections office described a "strain" on the availability of ballots, especially for the Democratic side, due to the turnout.
No irregularities have been reported, however.
By contrast to voter sentiments in Iowa where reportedly 57 percent of women caucus goers sided with Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. Clinton won the women's vote by 12 points in a state where women voters in the Democratic primary outnumbered men by 14 points (57 to 43 points).
Union members totaled 12 percent of voters, according to the Los Angeles Times, and Sen. Clinton won that category by 11 points. (According to MSNBC, 20 percent of New Hampshire Democratic voters live in a union household, and Clinton won that category by nine points.)
According to the Associated Press, Sen. Clinton also won double-digit victories in New Hampshire's largest population centers.
Sen. Obama won with double-digit figures in the youth and independent voter categories.
Speaking in conversational tones in her speech following the announcement of the results, Sen. Clinton thanked New Hampshire voters. "I listened to you and, in the process, I found my own voice," she said.
"This campaign is about people, about making a difference in your lives," Clinton continued.
Citing the subprime mortgage crisis, the health care crisis, the lack of access to education opportunities, and worsening standards of living, Clinton said, "Too many have been invisible for too long. Well, you are not invisible to me."
Under Bush, big oil, pharmaceuticals and insurance corporations and student loan companies "have had seven years of a president who stands up for them. It's time we had a president that stands up for all of you," she said.
Clinton promised to put people first. "We're going to rally on and make our case. We are in it for the long ride," she added to thunderous applause.
Clinton also promised to end the war "the right way," to provide health care for veterans, and to restore US credibility.
