Mr Obama's main Democrat rival, Hillary Clinton, brought an emotional end to campaigning, choking back tears as she called the poll "very personal".

In the Republican race, Mr McCain has opened a lead over rival Mitt Romney.

Candidates are hoping to gain momentum before 20 states vote in the so-called Super Tuesday on 5 February.

'Neck-and-neck Democratic rivals 'neck and neck' ...
US rivals braced for key debates ...
Hostage drama at Clinton office ... race'

The New Hampshire voting is already under way - the two tiny communities of Dixville Notch and Hart's Location have by tradition already registered and counted their votes.

After a disappointing second-place showing behind Mike Huckabee in last week's Iowa's caucuses - the opening battle of the primary season - Mr Romney needs a strong showing in New Hampshire to keep his campaign alive.

"Right now it's a neck-and-neck race," he told reporters in Stratham, New Hampshire.

"But with the debate last night and the support I received from that debate I anticipate winning tomorrow."

Opinion polls indicate that Mr Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and Baptist minister, is a distant third in New Hampshire, where his frequent references to God and the Bible have not played so well.

Both are threatened by a resurgent Mr McCain who after seeing his campaign nearly derail last summer, has concentrated much of his time and money on New Hampshire.

Other Republican candidates have been looking beyond Tuesday's New Hampshire primary to focus on states that go to the polls later.

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has been focusing on Florida's 29 January contest, hoping to gain momentum going into Super Tuesday.

Actor and former Senator Fred Thompson has been campaigning in South Carolina, where Republicans vote on 19 January.

Obama's wave

New York Senator Clinton's voice trembled with emotion as she told a group of undecided New Hampshire voters in a coffee shop that politics for her was personal.

"It's not easy, and I could not do it if I just didn't passionately believe it was the right thing to do.

"I have had so many opportunities from this country, I just don't want us to fall backwards," she said.

She has seen her lead in the polls eclipsed by Mr Obama who told cheering supporters in Claremont, New Hampshire, that "you're the wave and I'm riding it".

Despite a USA Today/Gallup poll indicating a 13% lead for Mr Obama, Mrs Clinton vowed to "keep going until the end of the process on February 5" no matter what the result of the New Hampshire vote.

While Iowa and New Hampshire - two of the earliest contests - do not necessarily produce a winner from either campaign, they can boost contenders' chances ahead of primaries in larger states.

(BBC)

<< Back