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Whit Johnson reportingSome people here in Utah were watching the New Hampshire Primary closely. The story tonight was really more on the democratic side, with the close battle between Clinton and Obama. But everyone we spoke to says this presidential race still has a long way to go.
The big party tonight was at Barack Obama headquarters in Salt Lake City.
Aaron Wiley said, "Yeah, we're all on our toes you know. Oooh, so we're excited."
Obama supporters were energized by the strong showing in Iowa, but tonight they watched Hillary Clinton maintain a slight lead throughout most of the night. Still, they say Obama is gaining momentum across the country and here in Utah.
Wiley said, "The base was already created. When the campaign got here there was already 4,000 individuals who indicated that they support or they want to volunteer for Senator Barack Obama here in Utah."
As for the Clinton campaign in Utah, they say her performance in New Hampshire is a moral victory but still just the beginning.
Donald Dunn, Clinton's campaign representative in Utah, said, "I've told some of my friends it's sort of like game two of the World Series. So we've got a lot of work, a lot of campaigning still ahead of us."
Dunn says they expect much support in large states like New York and California. "The Clinton campaign is going strong there, looking ahead to Nevada, which is the 19th of January, and South Carolina."
On the Republican side it was Romney versus McCain. John McCain's emphasis on voters in New Hampshire paid off, but Romney supporters say he's not backing down.
Kirk Jowers, with the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, said, ‘A fatal blow to most people is not a fatal blow to Romney. He will be in this thing until he either wins or at least until March, and no other candidate can say that."
Our efforts to catch up with the Romney and McCain campaigns in Utah tonight were unsuccessful.
Utahns will get to pick their primary favorites on February fifth.
