Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders swept the New Hampshire primaries on Tuesday, with the former putting a host of mainline Republicans on notice and the latter inflicting an embarrassing defeat on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.
For Trump, the New York billionaire who has dominated the political space for months with his brash ways and explosive rhetoric, it was the first victory in the long road to the White House after losing the Iowa caucuses last week.
For Sanders, the “Democratic Socialist” from Vermont, it was jubilation unlimited as he virtually crushed the powerful Clinton in a one-on-one clash, capturing 60 per cent of the votes against her 38.3 per cent with about 9 per cent of votes still to be counted.
In the crowded Republican field, Trump won handily with 35.2 per cent votes, followed by Ohio Governor Jon Kasich (15.8 per cent), Senator Ted Cruz (11.7 per cent), former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (11.1 per cent), Senator Marco Rubio (10.5 per cent) and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (7.5 per cent). Eight per cent of votes still remained to be counted.
Both Sanders and Trump have in their own separate ways been trying to tap into the anger of middle class voters, with the former promising a political and economic revolution and the latter pledging to “make America great again”.
“What began last week in Iowa, what voters confirmed here tonight, is nothing short of the beginning of a political revolution,” Sanders told his jubilant supporters.