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

"Today's the best day we had in two weeks," the state's top election official said, predicting that 351,000 of New Hampshire's 738,000 voters would cast ballots. He said he expected 40,000 people to register and vote today, compared to the 26,000 new registrations produced by the 1996 primary.

The highest number of voters to turn out for the primary was 348,000 in 1992, he said. The 1996 primary drew 303,000 voters.

Various polls on the eve of the primary showed John McCain tied or with a slight edge over George W. Bush among Republicans. Democrats Bill Bradley and Al Gore also were running too close to call.

Although New Hampshire allows undeclared voters to cast ballots in either the Republican or Democratic primaries, Gardner said he expected only 81,000 independent voters to cast ballots today.

Gardner said he expected McCain to draw more independent voters than Bradley, "but not by much."

"Indpendents just don't vote in the same numbers as Democrats or Republicans" in the primary, Gardner said.

The state's election rolls showed 198,000 Democrats, 266,000 Republicans and 275,000 independents shortly before the primary, he said.