Two down, 48 states to go

Karen McCarthy reports from New Hampshire on the fallout from the presidential primary and the likely direction Republican and Democrat candidates will take as the race to the White House gathers pace

Barack Obama receives a hug from his wife Michelle after voting ended in the New Hampshire primary. His surprise defeat gives Hillary Clinton a major boost and leaves Obama with a challenge to convince voters he can win the US presidential election next November. Picture: Stephan Savoia/AP

SENATOR Barack Obama bolted out the gate from the moment the first voting booth opened for the 17 registered voters of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire on Tuesday. But after a bitter fight, Senator Hillary Clinton surged from behind and beat him to the finish line stunning pundits who had predicted an easy win for Mr Obama.