US campaign -- McCain crushes Bush, Gore beats Bradley
REUTERS

MANCHESTER, (NEW HAMPSHIRE), FEBRUARY 2: Republican Presidential underdog John McCain has crushed front-runner George W Bush in the New Hampshire Primary while Democrat Al Gore eked out a tense victory over former Senator Bill Bradley.

McCain, the Senator from Arizona who often bucks the Republican Party line, was thrashing Texas Governor George Bush in the nation's first primary by 19 percentage points, 49-31 per cent, with 84 per cent of the vote counted on Tuesday.

It was a humiliation for Bush which threatened to damage his aura of invincibility and tighten the contest for the Republican Presidential nomination in the weeks ahead. With 84 per cent of the Democratic vote counted, Gore led Bradley by 52-48 percent. But the one-time basketball star sounded a defiant note, vowing to continue his campaign.

But the big story of the night was McCain, a former navy pilot who spent 5 and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. ``Today, the Republican Party has recovered its heritage of reform,'' hetold supporters. ``It is the beginning of the end for the truth-twisting politics of (President) Bill Clinton and Al Gore.''

``My friends, a wonderful New Hampshire campaign has come to an end but a great national crusade has just begun,'' a visibly moved and buoyed McCain declared.

Gore was equally exhilarated in his victory speech. ``You gave me your faith. You gave me your trust. I will fight for you,'' the Vice President declared.

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