From the verge of a defeat predicted by pollsters, Hillary Rodham Clinton crawled back to a narrow and surprise victory in New Hampshire over Barack Obama to keep the contest for a Democratic nomination alive.

Fifteen years ago, it was here that her husband Bill Clinton came back from near hopelessness to manage a miracle second place, to become the “Comeback Kid” of American politics and to begin a journey to serve two terms as President.

“Over the last week, I listened to you,” said Clinton in her victory speech here. “And in the process, I found my own voice.” While thanking a bevy of supporters in a hall at the Southern New Hampshire University, she said, “Now, together let’s give America the kind of comeback that New Hampshire has just given me.”

While Clinton won the primaries by getting 39 per cent of votes polled here, Obama was second with 37 per cent, followed by John Edwards with 17.

Addressing a crestfallen crowd of supporters, Obama was graceful, congratulating Clinton on her victory. “We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change,” he said. “We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics that will only grow louder and more dissonant in the days and weeks to come.”

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