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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire primary: Romney claims victory | New Hampshire primary: Romney claims victory |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Mitt Romney has taken a step closer to the Republican Party presidential nomination after claiming victory in the New Hampshire primary. | Mitt Romney has taken a step closer to the Republican Party presidential nomination after claiming victory in the New Hampshire primary. |
| With more than half of results counted, the former Massachusetts governor was comfortably ahead on 37% of the vote. | With more than half of results counted, the former Massachusetts governor was comfortably ahead on 37% of the vote. |
| Texas Congressman Ron Paul was second on 23% and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman third on 17%. | Texas Congressman Ron Paul was second on 23% and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman third on 17%. |
| Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich were on level pegging with 10% each. | Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich were on level pegging with 10% each. |
| Primaries and caucuses will take place in every US state over the next few months to pick a Republican nominee before the eventual winner is crowned at the party convention in August. | Primaries and caucuses will take place in every US state over the next few months to pick a Republican nominee before the eventual winner is crowned at the party convention in August. |
| 'Desperate' rivals | 'Desperate' rivals |
| Following his narrow win in last week's Iowa caucuses, Mr Romney now has strong momentum heading for South Carolina's primary this month. | Following his narrow win in last week's Iowa caucuses, Mr Romney now has strong momentum heading for South Carolina's primary this month. |
| He took to the stage to declare victory within 20 minutes of the polls closing, delivering a sustained attack on President Barack Obama's economic record and "European-style socialist" policies. | He took to the stage to declare victory within 20 minutes of the polls closing, delivering a sustained attack on President Barack Obama's economic record and "European-style socialist" policies. |
| He also took a swipe at some of his "desperate" Republican rivals, whom he said wanted to "put free enterprise on trial" - a reference to a row that blew up on the final day of campaigning over Mr Romney's alleged job-cutting past. | He also took a swipe at some of his "desperate" Republican rivals, whom he said wanted to "put free enterprise on trial" - a reference to a row that blew up on the final day of campaigning over Mr Romney's alleged job-cutting past. |
| Looking ahead to the next primary contest, he told supporters: "The president has run out of ideas. Now, he's running out of excuses. And tonight, we are asking the good people of South Carolina to join the citizens of New Hampshire and make 2012 the year he runs out of time." | Looking ahead to the next primary contest, he told supporters: "The president has run out of ideas. Now, he's running out of excuses. And tonight, we are asking the good people of South Carolina to join the citizens of New Hampshire and make 2012 the year he runs out of time." |
| In his first presidential run in 2008, Mr Romney finished second in New Hampshire to John McCain, who ultimately won the Republican nomination. This time, he campaigned with Mr McCain's endorsement. | In his first presidential run in 2008, Mr Romney finished second in New Hampshire to John McCain, who ultimately won the Republican nomination. This time, he campaigned with Mr McCain's endorsement. |
| Texas Governor Rick Perry, currently on less than 1% of the vote, effectively conceded New Hampshire to campaign instead in staunchly Republican South Carolina. | Texas Governor Rick Perry, currently on less than 1% of the vote, effectively conceded New Hampshire to campaign instead in staunchly Republican South Carolina. |
| He said in a statement this state, which holds its primary on 21 January, would be more "friendly territory" for a social and fiscal Tea Party conservative. | He said in a statement this state, which holds its primary on 21 January, would be more "friendly territory" for a social and fiscal Tea Party conservative. |
| Ron Paul, who followed up his third place in last week's Iowa caucuses with another strong showing, said in his thank you speech to supporters that he was "nibbling at the heels" of Mr Romney and his result represented a "victory for the cause of liberty". | |
| "There is no way they are going to stop the momentum we have started," he told an ecstatic crowd of young supporters, who cheered his vow to bring US troops home and chanted "Ron Paul revolution, bring us back our constitution!" | "There is no way they are going to stop the momentum we have started," he told an ecstatic crowd of young supporters, who cheered his vow to bring US troops home and chanted "Ron Paul revolution, bring us back our constitution!" |
| Hitting back at critics of his libertarian-leaning platform, Mr Paul told the crowd critics were right that his movement was dangerous - "dangerous to the status quo". | Hitting back at critics of his libertarian-leaning platform, Mr Paul told the crowd critics were right that his movement was dangerous - "dangerous to the status quo". |
| Analysts estimate about 250,000 Republican voters turned out to vote in New Hampshire. | Analysts estimate about 250,000 Republican voters turned out to vote in New Hampshire. |
| President Obama is seeking re-election amid voter concern at the pace of economic recovery from the recession that started in 2007 during the White House tenure of George W Bush and ended in 2009. | President Obama is seeking re-election amid voter concern at the pace of economic recovery from the recession that started in 2007 during the White House tenure of George W Bush and ended in 2009. |
| Are you in New Hampshire? If you would be willing to be interviewed by the BBC about the primary? Please fill in the form below. | Are you in New Hampshire? If you would be willing to be interviewed by the BBC about the primary? Please fill in the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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