Voters all across New Hampshire are heading to gymnasiums, town halls
and even churches, casting their ballots in the state's presidential
primary.
Most of the northeastern state's polling locations have opened their
doors and will stay open until Tuesday evening but at least in one small
town the voting is done.
The nine registered voters in Dixville Notch, near the Canadian border,
cast their votes in the Republican Party primary shortly after midnight
local time . Officials there say former Massachusetts Governor Mitt
Romney and Jon Huntsman, the former U.S. ambassador to China, tied for
first, each winning two votes apiece.
Romney held a large lead in public opinion polls ahead of Tuesday's
primary – the first primary of the 2012 presidential campaign – but that
did not keep his main challengers from intensifying their attacks on him
during last-minute campaigning Monday.
Much of the criticism has centered around Romney's previous career
running a private investment firm where he made millions of dollars.
Many people say Romney's firm laid off hundreds of employees from
companies it bought, while making large profits for the investors.
Ex-U.S.
Senator Rick Santorum, who lost to Romney by only eight votes last week
in the Iowa caucuses, hopes to also come in second in New Hampshire. But
the latest polls suggest second place may go to Texas Congressman Ron
Paul.
Besides Huntsman, the other major contenders for the Republican
nomination include Texas Governor Rick Perry and ex-congressman Newt
Gingrich.
All the candidates have been seeking to highlight their conservative
credentials against the more liberal President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
Mr. Obama faces no major challengers in Tuesday's primary vote.
Many political analysts think next week's primary election in South
Carolina will reveal whether the moderate Romney can rally the support
of conservative voters.
