Kerry wins in New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, N.H. — John Kerry overpowered Howard Dean to win New Hampshire's primary Tuesday, scoring a second-straight campaign victory to establish the four-term senator as the Democratic Party's presidential front-runner.

"I ask Democrats everywhere to join us so we can defeat George W. Bush and the economy of privilege," Kerry told supporters, promising to "reduce the poverty of millions rather than reducing the taxes of millionaires."

Kerry now has history on his side. No candidate in either party who won both Iowa and New Hampshire has been denied his party's nomination since 1972.

Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark were in a distant race for third. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, sagging to fifth place, rejected advice from some advisers to abandon his bid.

After trooping through coffee shops, country stores and livings rooms of Iowa and New Hampshire, the candidates now move to the cold realities of a national campaign — airport rallies and multimillion-dollar ad buys in seven states holding contests next Tuesday.

Kerry, who reshaped the race with his stunning win in Iowa's caucuses Jan. 19, steams toward the cross-country contests emboldened with the aura of success to argue that he is the candidate best suited to oust President Bush in November.

With all of the precincts reporting, Kerry had 39 percent of the vote, Dean 26 percent, Clark 13 percent, Edwards 12 percent and Lieberman 9 percent.

Dean, the former five-term governor of Vermont who finished third in Iowa, lost New Hampshire by double digits — falling short of what he needed to erase doubts about his viability.

He did manage about twice as many votes as either Edwards or Clark and found solace in gaining a bit of ground since his disastrous Iowa finish and shrill election-night address.

Dean kept his emotions in check Tuesday night, telling supporters, "The people of New Hampshire have allowed all of you to hope again that we're going to have real change in America."

Edwards, who finished a surprise second in Iowa, said his double-digit finish is an improvement over his standing in polls before Iowa. He's staking his candidacy on South Carolina, a centerpiece of next week's contests. "Beyond South Carolina, I don't want to make any predictions," he said.

Ignoring his fifth-place showing, Lieberman declared, "We're in a three-way split decision" and pointed his ragged campaign toward South Carolina, Delaware and Oklahoma.