Under-fire Romney looks for fresh White House win

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CONCORD, (New Hampshire), Jan 10, (AFP): Republican White House hopefuls, led by frontrunner Mitt Romney, face New Hampshire voters Tuesday in a bellwether primary all-but-certain to tighten his hold on the nomination.
Analysts were eager to see how well the former Massachusetts governor and millionaire venture capitalist does compared to polls that have given him a commanding lead all year-and to see who comes in second.
Romney hopes a romp-after a squeaker win in Iowa-will propel him into South Carolina's January 21 primary-the first in the South, where his more conservative rivals could get their best shot at a victory.
By tradition, the first ballots were cast shortly after midnight in two tiny New Hampshire towns with a combined turnout of 32 voters.
In Dixville Notch-population 75 -- Romney tied former US China envoy Jon Huntsman with two votes each out of nine cast. In Hart's Location-population 42 -- Romney was the Republican frontrunner with five votes.
Overall, New Hampshire officials expect some 325,000 voters to head to the polls, most of them Republicans because Democratic President Barack Obama is running unopposed for his party's nomination ahead of the November 6 elections.
The Republican primary is closed to Democrats but open to Republicans and to the state's undeclared voters-its term for registered independents who are notoriously unpredictable and can be late to make up their minds.
The candidates themselves were expected to make made-for-television public appearances-telephoning undecided voters, exhorting volunteers to get their supporters to the polls-before settling in to await the verdict.