Some exit poll information from tonight:

Angry at the Administration
Kerry 37%
Dean 35%

Against the Iraq invasion
Kerry 41%
Dean 30%


What do voters want / Who did they vote for?
29% Stand up for principles (Dean)
20% Can beat Bush (Kerry, 4:1)
12% Experience (Kerry 4:1, Clark was #2 choice)

40% of voters were independents, and nearly half were late-deciders (last week or less), most of whom went for Kerry. Dean won in Hanover and the western area of the state (near the Vermont border). Kerry won in the southeast, including the working-class areas of Manchester and the more-bureaucratic capitol, Concord, as well as the more liberal areas near Boston. Clark did best in the north of the state (where he got a win in the first precinct, the 26 votes of Dixville Notch).

 
It's a a four-man race coming out of New Hampshire, with Kerry reinforcing his lead, Dean catching just enough of a second wind to keep him in the race, and Clark and Edwards neck-in-neck going into the South on the 3rd. Lieberman is trying to spin his fifth-place finish as a virtual tie for third, but the writing's on the wall, and he won't last beyond February 3rd. Interesting times for the Democrats, indeed.

Many have seen a competitive race on the left as a good thing for BC04, the theory being that negative campaigning and oppo work would drive deep wedges between competing supporters. However, anecdotal results in Iowa -- in an interview with Des Moines TV, Democratic chair Gordon Fischer said that many caucus locations had run out of voter registration forms -- suggested otherwise: a competitive race may catalyze interest and energize the base for the general election.

In the meantime, Bush is catching flak from his right, where his base has become disenchanted with a growing deficit, rapidly expanding social programs, a controversial immigration reform proposal and, as mentioned below, the recent appointment of Judge Pickering to an appellate position. Since a low evangelical turnout will cripple BC04's re-election efforts, the Administration may need to tack rightward during election season.