US: After his convincing win in the New Hampshire Democratic primary election, Senator John Kerry set out yesterday to consolidate his claim as the most electable candidate against President George Bush in next week's "Super Tuesday" poll of seven states.
Senator Kerry overpowered Mr Howard Dean in Tuesday's New Hampshire election by 39 to 26 per cent, with voters declaring by 2-1 in exit polls that they backed the Massachusetts senator because they think he is the most likely to defeat Mr Bush in November.
This was the second straight campaign victory for the 60-year-old Mr Kerry, who has come from far behind in both Iowa and New Hampshire to dominate the field.
"We're coming, you're going and don't let the door hit you on the way out," Mr Kerry said, addressing Mr Bush in his victory speech in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Mr Dean portrayed his second place as a victory, as Bill Clinton did in 1992, though the best hope the former Vermont governor now has of taking the nomination lies in the big states of California and New York on March 2nd.
Retired general Mr Wesley Clark just shaded Senator John Edwards of North Carolina for a distant third place at 12 per cent, and Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut finished 5th with 9 per cent. While Mr Lieberman is sure to drop out if he does not stage a major surprise next week, Mr Clark and Senator Edwards also have to make up a lot of ground to stay in the race.
As a southerner, Mr Edwards's best prospect of becoming a force in the contest for the Democratic nomination is a victory in South Carolina where he is popular, and Mr Clark is pinning his hopes on winning Oklahoma.
They are gambling that their relatively moderate appeal will help them regain ground, but exit polls showed that moderates in New Hampshire voted for Kerry by 43 to 18 per cent over Mr Dean.
Mr Kerry now has the nomination to lose, just as Howard Dean had a mere three weeks ago when he dominated every national and state opinion poll.
The jubilant four-term senator told fellow Vietnam veterans at a post-election rally: "We're the same band of brothers: we're a little older and a little greyer but we still know how to fight for our country." ( Mr Kerry has dyed his hair in recent days, according to "before" and "after" photographs, so that it is actually more dark than grey).
"We were written off for months and plugged on and showed people we have determination," he said. "The fight over powerful special interests has only just begun."
In contrast to his tumultuous and much-criticised concession speech in Iowa, Mr Dean, in new suit and tie, gave a more subdued address to his still-exuberant supporters on Tuesday night.
"The people of New Hampshire have allowed our campaign to regain its momentum, and I am very grateful," said Mr Dean, who polled strongly among liberals, war opponents and voters angry at Mr Bush.
"The best way to beat George Bush is to stand up to him all the time, not just when it's convenient," he declared, a reference to his opposition to the Iraq war, which Mr Kerry supported.
The result was nevertheless a huge setback for the former Vermont governor, who had practically lived in his neighbouring state for a year and just four weeks ago was 25 per cent ahead in the polls.
Mr Kerry's victory is a vindication of his decision to abandon New Hampshire when his campaign was on the point of disintegration to focus on Iowa to get a boost for his candidacy.
The Democratic candidates now turn from retail to wholesale campaigning, relying less on town hall meetings than on television advertising to reach voters in South Carolina, Missouri, Delaware, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and North Dakota.
Some 200,000 voted in New Hampshire, compared to the record 170,000 turnout in 1992.
The PRIMARIES: results and dates
Results of the New Hampshire
Democratic primary:
John Kerry: 39 per cent.
Howard Dean: 26 per cent.
Wesley Clark: 12 per cent.
John Edwards: 12 per cent.
Joe Lieberman: 9 per cent.
Dennis Kucinich: 1 per cent
Al Sharpton: 0 per cent
Primaries and caucuses between now and March 2nd:
February 3rd - Super Tuesday: South Carolina, Missouri, Delaware, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico and North Dakota.
February 7th: Michigan and Washington state.
February 8th: Maine.
February 10th: Virginia,Tennessee.
February 14th: Nevada.
February 17th Wisconsin.
February 24th: Utah, Hawaii, Idaho
March 2nd: California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Minnesota.