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In New Hampshire, primary voters are keen — and divided

CONCORD — Mr Jamie Labrie says he is a proud Republican who admired former president George W Bush. This time around, Donald Trump is getting his vote and, like many in New Hampshire, Labrie is keen to have his voice heard.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets supporters at a polling place for the presidential primary in Manchester, New Hampshire February 9, 2016. Photo: Reuters

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets supporters at a polling place for the presidential primary in Manchester, New Hampshire February 9, 2016. Photo: Reuters

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CONCORD — Mr Jamie Labrie says he is a proud Republican who admired former president George W Bush. This time around, Donald Trump is getting his vote and, like many in New Hampshire, Labrie is keen to have his voice heard.

Mr Labrie, a 38-year-old trained metal worker, says he is worried about the economy, and he thinks a man who’s made billions in international real estate has the answers.

“For lack of a better word, balls,” Mr Labrie told AFP outside a church in Concord, on his way to vote yesterday in New Hampshire’s largest city Manchester, when asked about his choice.

Like many in the Granite State, the first in the nation to hold a presidential primary, Mr Labrie was excited about being part of the process Tuesday -- and thrilled at the chance to have an early influence on the 2016 White House race.

“I think it’s every citizen’s duty. That’s my feeling on it. You can’t complain if you didn’t vote,” he said.

In New Hampshire, a small state in the northeastern United States, voters can register as a Democrat, Republican or an independent allowed to vote for anyone.

Mr Labrie said he also admires Bush’s younger brother Jeb, who wants to follow his father and brother into the White House, but is weary of career politicians.

“America’s the biggest business on the planet and the fact that he’s one of the most successful businessmen on the planet, helps,” he said of the 69-year-old Trump.

JAZZED

Inside St John’s Church in Concord, office manager Lauren Flieder is stand-in moderator for a ward of 2,620 registered voters but expects to sign another 200-400 up on the spot.

“It’s a fun day, everyone’s all jazzed for it,” she told AFP in the warmth of the church hall, the snow covering the ground outside.

“We’re all about voting and getting everyone voting. It’s very exciting when we have a first-time voter.”

Flieder plans to ring through the ward’s tally to headquarters shortly after 7.00pm, then kick back and watch the results trickle in late into the night over a glass or two.

“A few of us will go back to my house and have a cocktail and lament about the day, and how great we did and how nice it is to have it all done,” Flieder said.

Ohio Governor John Kasich captured the imagination yesterday by winning the midnight vote in the tiny community of Dixville Notch, which since 1962 has picked the Republican who goes on to win the nomination.

Ms Beth Sargent, a middle aged volunteer for the Kasich campaign who works in government relations, laughed as she held up a placard.

“I want him to win,” Ms Sargent said, bundled into a cream jacket and purple gloves. “I think he’ll make good decisions for the country. I think he can bring the Congress together.

Kasich, former governor Bush and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are snapping at the heels of Florida Senator Marco Rubio in the polls, hoping to beat frontrunner Trump or finish in second place.

“They’ve been here for months, all the governors have, so I think that they could definitely have an opportunity to win,” said Ms Sargent.

LOVE IT

But indicative of the divisions in the state, Hillary Clinton volunteer Ruth Smith said she would never be happy with a Republican in the White House.

She went to see Kasich on the campaign trail, and says she thought to herself, “If he’s one of the best ones, we’re in big trouble.”

A fundraiser for a non-profit who lives in the picturesque town of Canterbury, she plans to attend Ms Clinton’s results party in the evening.

“I totally love it,” she said of the extraordinary opportunity in New Hampshire to meet the candidates and vote early, potentially making or breaking the presidential dreams of many.

“I actually will not vote for someone whose hand I haven’t shaken. And that’s kind of a cool thing to be able to do,” Ms Smith said.

She believes Clinton and her self-styled democratic socialist rival Bernie Sanders want the same things, but that he is unelectable even if, as expected, he carries the Democratic vote in New Hampshire.

“If Bernie wins the nomination in November, we will have a Republican president -- I firmly believe that,” she said.

“This country is huge and diverse, and there’s a lot of people who would just do, I don’t know what, before they vote for a socialist.”

Mr Robert Bundy disagreed.

A retired power plant operator, Bundy called for campaign finance reform outside a polling station in Concord with a “No PAC Rats ALLOWED!” poster.

“I’m for Bernie because his policies align with everything that I care about, so I have no problem supporting that man,” he said. AFP

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