DHAKA: Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders cruised to early victories in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, while Ohio Gov. John Kasich is projected to win a tight contest for second in the GOP race.

Trump, a brash billionaire reality TV star who has never run for office, and Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, were seen as long-shot outsiders when they launched their campaigns, reports the CNN.

Their victories reflect deep bipartisan discontent at professional politicians and suggest that both the Democratic and Republican races will now be long struggles that could stretch well into the spring.

Kasich, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush were battling for a runner-up finish to assume the leadership of the GOP establishment. The fight threatens to split the establishment vote and fuel the momentum of Trump and Ted Cruz, who won the Iowa GOP caucuses, as the campaign heads into delegate-rich Southern states where both are running strong campaigns.

Sanders' victory was a blow for Hillary Clinton, who won New Hampshire in 2008. Speaking from her campaign headquarters, Clinton congratulated Sanders and said, "I still love New Hampshire and I always will."

"Here's what we're going to do," she said. "Now we take this campaign to the entire country."

A source within the Sanders campaign said that the victory meant that the Vermont senator's operation would transition into a national effort targeting multiple states beyond the next two contests in South Carolina and Nevada.

Sanders intends to draw sharp differences with Clinton on the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal and other trade issues which could play into the campaign.

BDST: 0835 HRS, Feb 10, 2016
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