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WASHINGTON : The focus of the US presidential nomination contest has moved to New Hampshire, which holds its primaries on January 8.
Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee were the clear winners coming out of the Iowa Caucuses and now, the next challenge is to build on that success.
Obama is hoping to add to his Iowa caucus victory by building on this theme of change as he launches his New Hampshire campaign.
Analysts said his win has changed the political reality for Hillary Clinton, once seen as the inevitable Democratic nominee.
And in New Hampshire, Clinton is stealing a page from Obama's book.; she is now emphasising she's a candidate of change.
"We need a president who won't just call for change or a president that won't just demand change, but a president who will produce change, just like I've been doing for 35 years," said Hillary Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate.
Clinton has campaigned for one year already on the basis of her experience, but that's not what American voters want to hear.
"It's hard to be an advocate for change when the principal reason for electing you is, 'I've been there, I've been part of the deal and I can work out the system the way it is.' But people don't want the system. They want to change the system, they want something new," said Stephen Wayne, Georgetown University.
For Republican Mitt Romney, the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts, the New Hampshire Primaries could make or break his campaign.
Romney is putting his focus on winning New Hampshire because he came in a weak second in the Iowa caucus. But political analysts said there is a lot of uncertainty about all the Republican candidates
"There are questions about Romney's authenticity. There are questions about whether someone like Huckabee has an appeal beyond the religious right. There are questions about Giuliani and people who aren't even running here," said Stephen Billet, George Washington University.
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuilani is also looking to New Hampshire to give a boost to his candidacy, along with actor and one-time US Senator Fred Thompson.
John McCain is hoping his road to the White House starts in New Hampshire, by winning the independent vote. But he is facing a challenge from the Democrats.
"The real issue is, are the independents going to come out to vote for McCain, or are they so sour on the Republican party that they are going to vote for Obama. If there's a high turnout and Obama gets a big vote, he's going to hurt McCain just as much as he is going to hurt Mrs Clinton," said Wayne.
The candidates are packing their schedules in the short sprint to the New Hampshire primaries.
Winning independent voters is the key to winning the New Hampshire primaries. But the issues at play are different, and there are just a few short days to make the case which could make the difference in the race for the White House. - CNA /ls
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