Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry pulled out in front Tuesday night, garnering 39 percent support in the first national presidential primary in New Hampshire.
After gathering 13 percent more support than second-place candidate Howard Dean, Kerry expressed confidence heading into Super Tuesday March 2.
""We're coming in, you're going out, don't let the door hit you on the way out,"" he said, referencing special interest groups.
Around 7 p.m., volunteers holding beers and sporting ""Kerry"" stickers at the Inn On The Park, 22 S. Carroll St., cheered as the initial results from the New Hampshire primary elections appeared on television.
""I think that now Kerry has the momentum. We've got someone who can keep rolling forward and beat Bush,"" said state Sen. Roger Breske, D-Eland, a Kerry advocate who was at The Inn on the Park.
Kerry has surprised many skeptics who believed Dean could not be defeated in his bid for the Democratic Presidential candidacy.
However, some are not surprised by the current trend of events, citing their loyalty to Kerry from the beginning.
Carla McDonlad, a Kerry campaign volunteer, said she knew Kerry had the self-discipline to form the most organized campaign.
""For most of November and December, everyone was all about Dean this and Dean that,"" said Rachel Donald, a UW-Madison sophomore and co-chair for Students for Kerry. ""I was always the one with the Kerry button. Hopefully now all the work behind the scenes will get more attention and more students in our direction.""
Yet, at The Argus, 123 E. Main St., volunteers for the Dean campaign were celebrating as well. The bar was filled with students and graduates who were overjoyed to see Dean finish second in New Hampshire.
""Clearly, tonight's second place showing shows that Dean has rebounded,"" said Mike Spahn, state communications director for Dean. ""Of course we would have liked to have won this primary, but we're running in all 50 states. We're not giving up yet.""
Dean supporters at The Argus cited his energetic ""straight shooting"" nature and his willingness to stand up to President Bush's war in Iraq, as well as his stances on universal health care, the environment and his willingness to address issues within the country.
Some criticized Kerry for being ""soft"" during the war in Iraq, and applauded Dean for not folding during difficult choices. As Dean himself announced soon after the primary results were read, ""I'm not from inside Washington.""
Yet James Farrell, associate professor of communications at University of New Hampshire, says he does not see Dean winning the Democratic nomination.
""No matter how much some [voters] like Howard Dean and the things he's supporting, he's not the candidate who can defeat George Bush in the fall,"" he said.
Approximately two blocks away from the Dean revelers, there was also a gathering of Wesley Clark supporters at the Come Back Inn, 508 E. Wilson St. who were overjoyed at Clark's victory over John Edwards.
""We're preparing for the Wisconsin primaries, and this primary has given us a very favorable atmosphere,"" said Katie Saarinem, a UW-Madison senior and the state coordinator for Students for Clark.
Supporters from all three campaigns said it might not matter which candidate wins the Democratic nomination, considering they said they would pledge support for whichever candidate was running against President Bush.
Farrell said Bush is starting to face opposition from within his own party, garnering only 75 percent support in a Republican primary Tuesday.
This was a low number for an incumbent president, he said.
Super Tuesday is March 2, and Farrell indicated the race will be tighter come Wisconsin's primary.
""By Wisconsin, it will be a two-person race, probably Dean and Kerry,"" he said.
