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Clinton fights tears as she tries to avert defeat to Obama

White House hopeful Hillary Clinton choked back tears as she struggled to avert a bruising defeat at the hands of rival Barack Obama in yesterday's New Hampshire presidential primary.

Polls released hours before the second nominating contest showed Obama enjoying a solid lead in New Hampshire and for the first time shattering Clinton's advantage among Democratic voters nationally.

Republican John McCain looked to lock in his advantage over rival Mitt Romney, who needs a strong showing after coming in a grim second last week in the Iowa caucuses, which launched this year's White House race.

Polls opened in the tiny resort village of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire at midnight and closed minutes later after all 17 of its registered voters had cast ballots, in keeping with an eccentric tradition.

Results written on a board in the ballroom where balloting took place showed Obama with seven votes; former senator with John Edwards with two; and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson one, on the Democratic side.

None were for Clinton.

McCain was the Republican victor with four votes, while Romney took two and former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, one.

Clinton wrapped up her New Hampshire campaign with a raucous rally before 1,500 people in Manchester, New Hampshire, late on Monday.

In one of the few moments during Clinton's years on the political stage that her inner feelings have been exposed, the strain of the Obama juggernaut appeared to be taking its toll on Monday.

Asked how she managed to keep on going every day, the former first lady's eyes turned moist and red.

"It's not easy and I could not do it if I just didn't passionately believe it was the right thing to do," she said, her voice quavering, after talking with voters in a coffee shop.

"This is very personal for me ... it is not just political ... I see what's happening ... we have to reverse it.

"Some people think elections are a game," she said, her voice breaking. "It is about our country, it is about our kids' futures."

The latest polls showed Obama as the favorite going into the crucial nominating clash, after he beat Clinton into third place in Iowa after John Edwards.
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