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

In the end, she voted for Bradley. Despite liking McCain, she said she leans toward Democrats and felt uncomfortable voting for a Republican.

"Bradley's going to be a little different from what we've had from both parties in the past," said Parker, 60, who works part-time at a nursing home. "But I like John McCain. He's another who's not afraid to say what he thinks."

The nearly 275,000 independents are the state's largest voting bloc, and they can decide on election day which party's primary they want to vote in.

Interviews around the state Tuesday suggested that for many independents, a candidate's character was more important than his stand on issues. Eve Welch, 58, a registered independent who frequently votes Republican, said she simply liked McCain, a senator from Arizona.

"He just seems honest," Welch said. "He makes me feel good about our country. It's mostly his character; I don't think a president has that much control (over policy)."

Secretary of State Bill Gardner said he expected 81,000 independents to vote, 23 percent of the 351,000 votes he predicted would be cast in the Republican and Democratic primaries.

Many Democratic-leaning independents said they were trying to decide between McCain and the Democratic candidates, Vice President Al Gore and Bradley, the former New Jersey senator.

Like Parker, most independents lean toward one party.

Others, like engineer Doug Doughty of Goffstown, bounce back and forth. Doughty, 42, said he went with Bradley instead of McCain because Bradley seemed to need the votes more.

But even some usually straight-ticket Democrats who are registered as independents decided to vote for McCain. Raymond Levesque, 52, a retired engineer and disabled Vietnam veteran, said he and his wife liked McCain's style, war record and plans to boost the military.

"The reason we voted as Republicans was pretty clear -- the Democrats. They had a lack of leadership," said Levesque, who said he almost always votes Democratic.

Not all independents were as impressed with McCain. Manchester resident Matt Swank, 38, an independent who usually votes Democratic, said he voted for Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

"With Steve Forbes, he had good ideas, but Congress won't back him. For McCain, I was turned off by his temper tantrums. George Bush is more level-headed, not as hot-tempered and he has a good reputation," said Swank, who works for an insurance company.

Gloria Chamberlain, 66, of Hooksett, calls herself a Democratic-leaning independent, but voted for Forbes.

"He's not a politician. I think he's a good human being," Chamberlain said. "We need a change for the better for who's in the White House. He's a good family man."

Charles Brown, 86, of Boscawen, is a Democrat who registers as an independent so he can wreak havoc in the GOP primary. He said he always votes for the Republican underdog -- McCain on Tuesday.

"That's a negative vote against Bush," Brown said.

Others said they resented Bush's status as the Republican front-runner nationally. Carl Speth, 65, a middle-of-the-road independent who is retired from the Air Force, said: "I just wanted to vote against Bush so badly. He's already bought the primary."

Speth, of Goffstown, said he supported McCain because of his record as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.