By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff, 2/2/2000

ASHUA - His candidate got thumped, but Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci was still a winner in yesterday's Republican primary.

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

Without Cellucci's help - and it was substantial - Texas Governor George W. Bush's stinging defeat at the hands of Arizona Senator John McCain could only have been worse.

Moreover, Cellucci has raised his national political profile, appearing with Bush at major events and schmoozing national political reporters. Also, as Bush curtailed his public schedule yesterday, Cellucci was a key surrogate, working polls and talking to reporters about Bush's longer-term prospects.

Outside the Amherst Street Elementary School yesterday afternoon, Cellucci greeted voters from Nashua's third ward. Even before any votes were counted, Cellucci was putting a positive spin on the anticipated Bush defeat.

''This happens all the time in New Hampshire,'' he said. ''The insurgents tend to do well here.''

Bush, meanwhile, is well organized in states that follow New Hampshire. ''Twenty-five of 30 Republican governors are behind [Bush],'' said Cellucci. Bush also enjoys a huge lead in national polls and fund-raising.

Cellucci, a likely candidate for a high-level job should Bush be elected, was greeted warmly by several Bush poll workers in Nashua. Earlier, he campaigned in Bedford, an affluent Manchester suburb that is heavily Republican. The one glitch: the town moderator forced Cellucci to move about 20 feet after he approached voters too near the poll.

''A lot of voters were undecided, and I was trying to get the last word in,'' Cellucci explained.

Yesterday was the last of eight forays Cellucci made on behalf of Bush, whom he has known since 1979, when Cellucci became an early Massachusetts backer of W.'s father, former president George H.W. Bush. Cellucci has stumped in each of the last four days of the race, and has dined several times with nationally syndicated columnists and television pundits. Last night, Cellucci appeared on CNBC/MSNBC's ''Hardball'' with Chris Matthews.

He received another boost last Saturday. Cellucci and his wife, Jan, shared the stage with nearly the entire Bush family at a big rally in Milford. New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg and his wife, Catherine, were the only other non-family members on stage. Gregg is Bush's chairman in the Granite State. Cellucci also helped raise about $1.7 million for Bush in Massachusetts.

Equally significant, though, is the Cellucci campaign's supply of volunteers. His five-person campaign staff, headed by Rob Gray, has virtually been on loan to the Bush-New Hampshire effort in the week-and-a-half run-up to the primary.

Since early November, Cellucci's political operation has been exporting troops for leafletting or rallies. With regularity, the Massachusetts contingent on each occasion approached or even exceeded 200, no mean logistical feat in cross-boundary politicking.

Cellucci's troops filled in gaps in Gregg's organization, which, if the assessment of McCain aide Mike Murphy is accurate, was porous indeed, and its ability to deliver votes vastly overstated, The New York Times reported.

''They can't deliver a pizza,'' the Times quoted Murphy as saying.

Cellucci seems almost surprised by how well known he is in the southern part of the state, which is within the Boston media market.

For instance, 10 days ago, when he campaigned door-to-door in Nashua with US Representative Charles Bass, ''more people knew me than knew him,'' Cellucci remarked. Bass represents the 2d District, which includes Nashua.

Of course, the acclaim and recognition is not universal.

A Nashua poll worker for Vice President Al Gore, a Democrat, became a little confused when informed that Cellucci was coming to the polling station.

''Why doesn't he stay in New York?'' the signholder said, identifying himself as a Massachusetts transplant. ''Shouldn't he be worried about running against Hillary Clinton?''

When told it was Governor Cellucci of Massachusetts and not New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani who was en route, he was unfazed. ''Oh. Well, we don't need any of those out-of-staters,'' he said.