New York: Senator John McCain climbed back into contention for the Republican Presidential nominee by winning the party's primary in New Hampshire, while the Democratic race was still too close to call with former first lady Hillary Clinton slightly leading over Barack Obama.

McCain's victory marks a remarkable comback in a campaign that had been given up for dead just a few months ago, further muddying a Republican contest that now has no clear leader, the New York Times said.

Speaking to his supporters, McCain said, "Tonight we sure showed them what a comeback looks like." His chief rival in New Hampshire, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney congratulated him on "running a first-class campaign."

Winner of the Iowa Caucus and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee came in third in the primary. The Democrats were locked in a close contest, with Senator Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama by several percentage points with about a quarter of the precincts counted.

John Edwards, the Democrats 2004 vice presidential nominee, was a distant third. Turnout approached record levels and New Hampshire's independent voters most likely were the ones who decided both parties races.

Obama and McCain won the votes of independents by large margins over their closest competitors, Clinton and Romney, according to exit polls.
Roughly four in 10 voters who participated in each primary identified themselves as independents.

Source : PTI