New Hampshire Primary

Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire primary with a 16 per cent lead - Ron Paul came in second, Jon Huntsman (victim of this hilarious ad) third. 

But Romney does not leave New Hampshire unscathed. His Republican rivals have done him damage by focusing on his record as chief executive at the Bain company, which they described as a coven of corporate raiders and vultures, taking over smaller firms and laying off workers.

In spite of Romney winning by a large margin, Obama's re-election team will be heartened by the relatively low turnout in New Hampshire, suggesting a lack of enthusiasm among Republicans for Romney and the other GOP candidates. 

The Guardian: Mitt Romney cruises to victory in New Hampshire primary, January 11, 2012

South Carolina could still be interesting. A sage New Hampshire hand said the other day: "You've got to remember, this is not the last primary. It's the first primary." As tempting as it is to see New Hampshire as determinative, there are 11 days until the next contest, and a brutal air war is getting under way. Even if, as happened in New Hampshire, Romney comes out where he started, there should be plenty of twists and turns along the way. 

The Atlantic: Lessons from an Early Night in New Hampshire, January 10, 2012

Big Think: Quick Observations on the New Hampshire Primary, January 10, 2012

The Atlantic: What Did Romney Do at Bain?, January 10, 2012

NY Times: Romney Wins G.O.P. Primary in New Hampshire, January 10, 2012