Mitt Romney captures New Hampshire

Mitt Romney is poised to take a big step toward the Republican U.S. presidential nomination on Tuesday by capturing New Hampshire, hoping to ride out last-minute attacks from his rivals and recover from a self-inflicted wound. The former governor of neighboring Massachusetts carried a sizeable lead in polls into voting day, a sufficient cushion that should force rivals Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum into a battle for second place, says Reuters.

Romney is the long-time front-runner in Granite State polls, and his lead over the rest of the field ranges from 13 to 24 points, according to the latest surveys. New Hampshire's home field for Romney, the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts, who also owns a vacation home here and has spent lots of time the past six years campaigning for himself and fellow Republicans in the state. But Romney remains modest, telling reporters Monday in Hudson, New Hampshire, that, "right now what I'm worried about is winning in New Hampshire and hopefully having a margin larger than Iowa. I don't think I can handle another night like that.", according to CNN International.

Romney is popular here, thanks to his summer home on Lake Winnipesaukee and the Boston TV coverage beamed into the Granite State showcasing his years as Massachusetts governor.He's led in New Hampshire from the outset and will win handily Tuesday. But how much is good enough? Romney strategists want a victory in which he captures a percentage of the vote in the low 40s. That will build momentum from his better-than-expected squeaker win in Iowa and impress South Carolina Republicans, who vote Jan. 21, reports New York Daily News.