MANCHESTER, N.H.?Mitt Romney's advisers insisted coming into New Hampshire that they weren't caught up in the debate over how big of a win the former Massachusetts governor had to score here.
But as polls closed tonight, his staff and supporters couldn't resist obsessing over every bit of information about poll returns. Awaiting Romney's arrival on stage here at Southern New Hampshire University, they passed around BlackBerrys to scroll through precinct data rolling in, anxious to see how big their boss's margin of error was in key parts of the state.
"He's winning Manchester BIG TIME," one supporter announced, scrolling through the results on his iPhone, as a Romney aide rushed over to look over his shoulder. "Rochester! Look at that," the supporter said, speaking of a northern New Hampshire town where Romney campaigned this weekend, and where the tea party movement has been popular. "We've got it!"
A few minutes later, Romney took the stage. Rading from teleprompters, delivered the speech he had likely hoped to deliver in Iowa last week. As he does in his stump speech, Romney focused almost exclusively on President Obama, calling him a "disappointing president" who has "failed" the country.
But in a preview of his message heading into what is expected to be a tough fight in South Carolina, he accused unnamed Republican rivals of working in tandem with Obama to attack his resume as a venture capitalist at Bain Capital.
"President Obama wants to put free enterprise on trial. In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him," Romney said, reading from the teleprompter. "This is such a mistake for our Party and for our nation.? This country already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy. We must offer an alternative vision.? I stand ready to lead us down a different path, where we are lifted up by our desire to succeed, not dragged down by a resentment of success."
In the back of the room, Romney's top aides carefully monitored their boss's remarks, offering smiles to supporters who came up to offer hearty handshakes of congratulations. Four years after a disappointing loss in the state, they seemed happy?but not too happy?about their boss's win, perhaps knowing that the next 10 days could be the most brutal of the Republican primary.
Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's senior adviser, acknowledged the onslaught of attacks and scrutiny coming their way?including a brutal half-hour long ad being launched by a super PAC supporting Newt Gingrich that accuses Romney of killing jobs during his tenure at Bain.
He declined to explain how the Romney campaign will play defense in South Carolina, telling Yahoo News he didn't want to get into a discussion of specific strategy.
"What I will say," he said, matter of factly, "is that we are ready."
-- Holly Bailey, 9:50 p.m. ET
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Coming off a bottom-tier finish Tuesday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich urged his supporters to call everyone they knew in South Carolina and Florida, which will hold primaries later this month.
"I'm asking each of you not to slow down," Gingrich told supporters who gathered for an election-night party at the Radisson hotel in downtown Manchester.? "For the next couple days, make a list of every person you know in South Carolina and every person you ?know in Florida."
Gingrich, who at the time of this writing was in a tight race with Rick Santorum for fourth place in the state, spoke at the same time Santorum gave his across town. On the room's jumboscreen, Santorum's address played silently behind him. A tech person sprinted to the back of the room.
"Get that off! Kill it! Turn it off!" he said in an urgent whisper. They switched the channel to a feed of Gingrich's speech.
Gingrich urged his supporters to have faith, despite disappointing showing in the early states.
"This is step two in a long process," Gingrich said. "We're going to take to South Carolina tonight and pick up tomorrow morning."
The crowd in the room cleared out quickly after Gingrich left.
-- Chris Moody, 10:34 p.m. ET
The Paul party
Chanting "President Paul" and "End the Fed," Ron Paul supporters cheered for second place at the candidate's wrap event on Tuesday. At least two party-goers had on tri-cornered hats.
-- Laura Davis, 10:30 p.m. ET
We are updating this page throughout primary day in New Hampshire with scenes, photographs, observations and insights from the six Yahoo News reporters on the campaign trail in the state. Scroll down for more.
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