New Hampshire primary voters didn't just scrub the coronation of George W. Bush; they raised up against him a candidate of conviction and character proven in war and reform politics, John McCain.
Among Democrats, New Hampshire extends Bill Bradley's pesky pursuit of Bill Clinton's designated heir, Al Gore. Bradley lost again, by 5 points; but he'd lost Iowa by 29 points, and can say now he gained on Gore in New Hampshire, especially after his negative needling sunk in.
The legacy candidates are on notice; the Marquis of Queensbury rules may be suspended; the fund-raising phonebanks will staff up for more. These fights move on to South Carolina, Georgia, New York and California.
Maybe New Hampshire's real gift last night was to the hungry spectator class in American politics and the pundits who've got a full season now to argue and explain what's going on. (Hosted by Christopher Lydon)
