All six Republican contenders are heading to South Carolina on Wednesday to contest the next presidential primary despite Mitt Romney's convincing victory in New Hampshire.
It was the second straight triumph by the former Massachusetts governor and bolstered his front-runner status to take on President Barack Obama in November.
The sweep of the first two contests for the GOP nomination made history. It was the first time a non-incumbent Republican won both the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary.
Exit polls indicated Romney would get about 36% of the vote in Tuesday's New Hampshire vote, with Texas Rep. Ron Paul receiving 23% and former Utah Gov. and U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman at 18%.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum came in with 10% each and Texas Gov. Rick Perry trailed everyone with 1%, according to the exit polls.
"We didn't compete in New Hampshire. So it doesn't surprise us that our score there was a bit on the low side," Perry said on "Piers Morgan Tonight."
With Romney's New Hampshire victory expected, based on polling in recent weeks, the battle for second place and beyond had implications for the South Carolina primary on January 21.
cnn.com
