Romney Takes New Hampshire
By: Tracie Potts, NBC News
Updated: January 11, 2012
This time, the polls were right: Mitt Romney is the winner in New Hampshire with Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman coming in second and third, respectively.
All the candidates promise they'll stay in this race for South Carolina's primary next week. In fact, several are already there this morning. But for now, only Romney can claim victory in two states.
Mitt Romney scored a decisive victory. Today, he heads to South Carolina, focused on President Obama:
"We're asking the good people of South Carolina to join the citizens of New Hampshire and make 2012 the year he runs out of time," said Mitt Romney, (R) Presidential Candidate.
"He certainly had a clear-cut victory. But we're nibbling at his heels!" said Rep. Ron Paul (R) Presidential Candidate.
Rep. Paul ran strong among independents and young voters in New Hampshire, while Jon Huntsman calls his third place finish a "solid, comfortable" position. "We proved the point that this state wants its candidates to earn it the old-fashioned way. That's on the ground, handshake by handshake," said Jon Huntsman, (R) Presidential Candidate.
Newt Gingrich failed to break into the top three after hammering away at Romney but says the conservative south will be different. "We can create a majority that will shock the country and a majority that will begin to put us back on the right track. It is doable," proclaimed Newt Gingrich, (R) Presidential Candidate.
Rick Santorum could not replicate his Iowa success in the Granite State. "Had a lot of folks here, and spending a lot of time here and a lot of money, we knew it would be tough," said Rick Santorum, (R) Presidential Candidate.
He spent zero in New Hampshire, but has already committed to a million to get his message out down south.
All the candidates promise they'll stay in this race for South Carolina's primary next week. In fact, several are already there this morning. But for now, only Romney can claim victory in two states.
Mitt Romney scored a decisive victory. Today, he heads to South Carolina, focused on President Obama:
"We're asking the good people of South Carolina to join the citizens of New Hampshire and make 2012 the year he runs out of time," said Mitt Romney, (R) Presidential Candidate.
"He certainly had a clear-cut victory. But we're nibbling at his heels!" said Rep. Ron Paul (R) Presidential Candidate.
Rep. Paul ran strong among independents and young voters in New Hampshire, while Jon Huntsman calls his third place finish a "solid, comfortable" position. "We proved the point that this state wants its candidates to earn it the old-fashioned way. That's on the ground, handshake by handshake," said Jon Huntsman, (R) Presidential Candidate.
Newt Gingrich failed to break into the top three after hammering away at Romney but says the conservative south will be different. "We can create a majority that will shock the country and a majority that will begin to put us back on the right track. It is doable," proclaimed Newt Gingrich, (R) Presidential Candidate.
Rick Santorum could not replicate his Iowa success in the Granite State. "Had a lot of folks here, and spending a lot of time here and a lot of money, we knew it would be tough," said Rick Santorum, (R) Presidential Candidate.
He spent zero in New Hampshire, but has already committed to a million to get his message out down south.
