MANCHESTER, N.H.--In the first-in-the-nation primaries here yesterday, conservative commentator Patrick J. Buchanan won a surprising 41 percent of the vote, while former Massachusetts Sen. Paul E. Tsongas emerged victorious in the Democratic primary.
Both candidates said last night that they viewed the results as a message condemning President Bush's performance in Washington.
Though Bush topped Buchanan with 57 percent of the vote, the commentator's strong showing dealt the president an embarrassing blow in the Republican contest. Buchanan campaign aides said they see the outcome, determined with 70 percent of precincts reporting, as a reflection of Republicans' desire for change.
Buchanan captured nine of the 23 New Hampshire delegates who will go to the Republican National Convention in August.
Tsongas said he was satisfied with his 34-percent finish, though his principal rival, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, finished in better position than expected, with 26 percent of the Democratic vote. The race for third was unresolved for several hours after polls closed last night. With 97 percent of all precincts reporting, Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey had 12 percent, Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin had 11 percent and former California Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr. tallied nine percent.
Tsongas and Clinton evenly split the state's 18 delegates to the Democratic National Convention, which will take place in July.
New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, who was the subject of an active though unsolicited write-in compaign, gathered only three percent of the total vote. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader received two percent and actor Tom Laughlin, who starred in the "Billy Jack" movies, non one percent.
At his victory rally last night, Buchanan likened his supporters to members of an army battling the Washington Republican establishment.
"Now we must go forward," Buchanan said to a packed room at a restaurant south of Manchester. "What began as a little rebellion has emerged...as a full-fledged American revolution."
Buchanan stopped short of discussing the general election at his celebration, but emphasized the need for success in the southern states on March 10, known as Super Tuesday.
"Now that the great battle of New Hampshire is won, we face the battle of the South," Buchanan said.
Bush, who remained at the White House all day yesterday, cancelled a scheduled ession with reporters last night. He issued a written statement, however, which did not claim victory and which suggested his disappointment with the support shown for Buchanan.
"This election was for closer than many had predicted," Bush said in the statement. "I think the opponents on both sides reaped the harvest of New Hamp-shire's economy."
William Bennett, a former Bush cabinet member, said in a Cable News Network interview that the President will have to recognize Buchanan as a serious threat and to form an aggressive campaign in the race for the nomination.
"Kinder and gentler is over," Bennett said.
Historical precedents for the significance of Buchanan's victory are mixed. No incumbent president who gave up more than 35 percent of the New Hampshire vote has won the general election since World War II, but at the same time, no president has been elected without first winning New Hampshire since 1952. In the 1968 elections, Sen. Eugene J. McCarthycaptured 42 percent of the Democratic vote againstincumbent Lyndon B. Johnson in New Hampshire.Three weeks later, Johnson announced that he wouldnot seek re-election. Exit polls indicated that more than half ofthose who voted for Buchanan did so "to send amessage." Only 48 percent of his voters said theythought he was the best candidate, according toCNN. Tsongas, like Buchanan, called his victory anaffront to politics-as-usual. "Washington, we are sending you a message: Justtell us the truth," Tsongas said last night,flanked by his wife, sisters, and children. "We'regrown-ups. We can deal with it. We can overcomeit. Give us vision. Give us truth." Tsongas also said his victory was a two-prongedmessage to Democrats. "We honor and cherish thecommitment to individual rights and theenvironment," he said. "That is our heart and thatis our soul." "America does not trust [Democrats] with theeconomy," Tsongas continued. "That is the truthand that has to change." The candidate raised both fists clenched invictory several times when his speech was stoppedby applause. Tsongas maintained his usual drysense of humor, chiding the crowd for interruptinghim with "We want Paul" chants at one point. When a phone rang off stage, Tsongasdeadpanned, "Answer the phone and tell George Bushhe cannot concede till November." And Tsongas continued to join other Democratsand Republicans in criticizing the President theyall hope to unseat in November. Tsongasspecifically mentioned Bush's 1988 advertisementsthat featured furloughed criminal Willie Horton. The ads, which Bush said he intended tocriticize his opponent Michael S. Dukakis'sposition on crime, were widely considered asracist and racially divisive because theyhighlighted a Black criminal. "George Bush divided America in order to ruleit," Tsongas said. "I'm going to unite America inorder to heal it." Though Tsongas alone could claim victory amongthe Democrats, all were upbeat about their showingin yesterday's election. Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton was claiming a victory becausesome polls showed he would finish in a far weakerposition after recent allegations of maritalinfidelity and draft-dodging. "New Hampshire tonight has made Bill Clintonthe comeback kid," the runner-up said, standingbeside his wife, Hillary. Clinton's aides expressed confidence that hewould improve on his second place showing,particularly in the South on Super Tuesday. Thecandidate himself made an even bolder prediction. "I want you to know in November that we aregoing to win a great victory--against PatBuchanan," the candidate, sparking uproariousapplause. Kerrey was also upbeat after returns showed himbeating Harkin and Brown, although his leadconsisted of little more than a thousand voteslate last night. Kerrey also maintained that he would win thenomination. "We may not quite be golden yet, butbronze ain't bad," he said. Speaking at the Wayfarer Inn in Bedford, Kerreylamented the national economy, and used it as aspringboard for pushing his priority issue,national health insurance. "Unfortunately in America today, living hasbecome a hell," Kerrey said. "I want to be in acountry where the doctor says 'Where does ithurt?', not 'How are you going to pay?'" Harkin, who led Kerrey in polls through most oflast week, downplayed his fourth-place finish,saying that he has been an underdog from thebeginning and claiming that his opponents hadadopted many of his campaign ideas. "Maybe we didn't come in first tonight, but ourprogram did," Harkin told supporters at theGranite Street Bar and Grill. Harkin, who gathered 78 percent of alldelegates in his home state Iowa's caucuses lastweek, swore he would not give up the fight. "Do I look like someone who's going to tuck histail and run?" Harkin asked. "No way." And Brown was also enthusiastic after attaininga percentage which exceeded any poll'sprojections. Brown heralded his strong showing asan expression of the will of the people withoutthe filter of the unsympathetic media. He said that his toll-free campaign number hasreceived over 100,000 calls, and that hislarger-than-expected group of supporters showswhat can happen "when we have an election wherethe people can speak out." WBZ radio yesterday reported that voter turnoutwas much higher than expected in New Hampshire. A47 percent turnout had been forecast but stateofficials said 60 percent or more may have gone tothe polls, nearing a record.
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