Thursday, January 12, 2012
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney won the first-in-the-US New Hampshire Republican primary on Tuesday with 97,532 votes (39.3%). This follows his narrow victory in the Iowa Caucus last week. Congressman Ron Paul, who finished third in the Iowa Caucus, came in second with 56,848 votes (22.9%). Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, Jr., who spent a great amount of resources on the primary, came in third place with 41,945 votes (16.9%).
Romney in December 2011.
Image: Gage Skidmore..
The New Hampshire primary, the first primary of the election, is the second in a series of state elections that help to assign delegates to candidates to determine the presidential nominee of the Republican Party. Delegates can also be assigned from members of the Republican National Committee, though these are unpledged and subject to change. To win the nomination, a candidate must accumulate 1,144 delegates.
With his victory, Romney claimed seven delegates to increase his total to 25 with unpledged delegates included. Paul won three delegates for his finish to total ten delegates, placing him second overall to Romney. Despite his third place finish, Huntsman is currently sixth overall in delegates with only the two he won in New Hampshire. He currently trails former Senator Rick Santorum who has compiled eight delegates overall, followed by Texas governor Rick Perry with four, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with three.
In his victory speech, Romney criticized President Barack Obama, saying he “wants to turn America into a European-style entitlement society,” countering that he himself wants “to ensure that we remain a free and prosperous land of opportunity.” Romney received a call following the results from Paul, who offered his congratulations. Paul mentioned afterwards that “He certainly had a clear-cut victory. But we’re nibbling at his heels.” Paul, a libertarian, added, “I have to chuckle when they describe us as being dangerous. That’s one thing they are telling the truth New Hampshire Republican primary complete results
