By Ralph Jimenez, Globe Staff, 2/2/2000

ANCHESTER, N.H. - ''It does not appear that the voters of New Hampshire have endorsed me,'' conservative Republican Gary Bauer told a group of 80 supporters on his final campaign night in New Hampshire.

NEW HAMPSHIRE RESULTS Republican 98% of precincts reporting McCain 49% Bush 31% Forbes 13% Keyes 6% Bauer 1% Democrats 98% of precincts reporting Gore 52% Bradley 47% Percentages will not necessarily add to 100. FROM THE GLOBE Democrats fight to a close finish Independents turn GOP contest Contrarians speak up, leaders get wake up call Arizona senator has found strength in his weaknesses Independent voters say character was key to decision Why they voted the way they did Result no setback for Bush backer Cellucci Primary shows off NBC synergy Independents seen taking up the insurgents' fight Bauer, Keyes unbowed as they vow to soldier on Forbes hopes to make it a three-way race Bush campaign says it's ready to move on In Granite State diner, a final helping of politics First primary settled, campaigns mull new tactics On campaign trail, it's a frantic pace Vow of tenacity keeps Bradley's spirits high, focus keen For vice president's campaign, no letup in asking for votes NECN VIDEO Forbes praises McCain win, asks for more support Keyes will stay in race, despite big N.H. loss Gore wins the Democratic N.H. primary over Bradley Bradley greets voters at polls Will Bradley triumph? Turnout heavy in Granite State Can McCain pull off a victory? Gore makes a last minute effort These video clips are viewed using RealPlayer. Get RealPlayer | Help EARLIER COVERAGE Gore wins close race among Democrats McCain savors big win over Bush in GOP race True to tradition, N.H. tests front-runners McCain impressed voters as straight shooter GOP voters happier with candidates than in '96 Independents say character was key to vote Granite State voters have their say N.H. Secretary of State again predicts high turnout Keys to reading the New Hampshire returns Bradley, McCain win Dixville Notch, Hart's Location

Early returns had Bauer dead last in the five-man race but vowing, albeit somewhat cryptically in the wake of his last-place finish in the Iowa caucauses, that he will soldier on.

He plans to carry his conservative crusade against abortion and moral decay at least as far as Delaware next Tuesday and perhaps on to South Carolina Feb. 19, said his communications director, Tim Goeglein.

Another conservative candidate, Alan Keyes, also is not letting up.

As he addressed supporters gathered last night in New Hampshire, and looked likely to place fourth in the Republican presidential primary here, Keyes sounded themes of a forward march for his crusade of moral replenishment in America.

''We are not discouraged! We will not retreat! We will not hesitate! We will not vacillate!'' Keyes thundered. The crowd cheered.

As he waded into a cluster of supporters, the public address system played ''The Battle Hymn of the Republic.''

Far from being ready to drop out of this presidential race, Keyes is leaving New Hampshire this morning for South Carolina, and tonight will be rallying with supporters in a place with palmetto rather than snowbanks.

Keyes, a former United Nations ambassador and radio talk-show host, said he would be happy to come close to publisher Steve Forbes's expected third-place finish in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary.

Bauer, a Reagan domestic policy adviser, spent the early part of election day visiting polling places before greeting supporters at an Italian restaurant in Manchester. There his campaign advisers said the candidate was returning to Washington to rethink, but not necessarily to relinquish, his frugal campaign to restore American values, Goeglein said.

Bauer saluted the people of New Hampshire and offered a figurative tip of his hat to his party's winner, Arizona Senator John McCain. ''I would like to congratulate Senator McCain on what was an incredible showing tonight. A job well done,'' Bauer said.

Keyes's New Hampshire supporters gathered last night at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord for one last look at their candidate before he headed south. Balloons were filled, bunting hung, TV cameras dutifully assembled, little meatballs set out in warming trays.

Keyes talked tough about McCain and last night sought to cast himself as the choice of conservative Republicans in upcoming state primaries.

Keyes's campaign has focused largely on what he sees as a national moral crisis brought on by the Democratic Party, the struggle against abortion rights and the reinstatement of God into public life.

Nona Davis, a Keyes supporter and volunteer from Concord, said she believes in Keyes's message of morality. ''I'm so tired of what we've had the last four years,'' Davis said. And no matter how Keyes finished in New Hampshire, Davis said, ''he's already influenced the campaign a whole bunch, and influenced the world.''