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Final results: Summary results | Town resultsThe BasicsThe New Hampshire primary is a mainstay in American electoral politics. Every four years, voters gather to help determine the Republican and/or Democratic nominee for President. While the state only has 12 electoral votes in 2012 (normally it’s 24, but the Republican National Committee penalized the state party for moving up the event date), the primary’s position as one of the earliest contests gives the state out-sized influence over the nomination process.Only the Iowa caucuses come before New Hampshire’s primary. Traditionally, New Hampshire’s broad-based primary contest has been seen as a counter-weight to Iowa’s more drawn-out caucus process, which tends to draw a smaller core of party faithful. In the case of the 2012 Republican race, New Hampshire’s electorate is seen to represent the more libertarian-leaning, fiscally conservative wing of the party, while Iowa voters are seen as representing the socially conservative wing of the GOP base.N.H. Primary summary provided by StateImpact - NH reporter, Amanda Loder

Paul Camp Reacts Positively

Paul supporters in front of the main stage.
Paul supporters in front of the main stage.

Amid occasional chants of "President Paul," the crowd milling around the Ron Paul election night party is upbeat, though some faces are glum.  The news of some networks calling second place for Ron Paul has not spread through the whole crowd, but those that have heard are not surprised.  Many admit that they were hoping for first but expecting second.

One young man was very critical of the news media, saying that the coverage hadn't been fair.  He predicted that the media would now have to pay attention to Paul, considering he has enjoyed strong showings in both Iowa and, apparently, in New Hampshire.

Another group of gentlemen were expecting that the nomination would fight would come down to Romney and Paul, and that they would be able to debate directly.  Once this contrast is drawn and the race comes down to those two, these Paul supporters predicted, Paul would win the nomination.  All of these supporters hope that future primaries will hold even better results for Paul.  

Among the songs the crowd at the Paul Camp has heard, one has enjoyed a particularly enthusiastic reception: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

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