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US presidential primary election begins in New Hampshire

A voter leaves a voting booth at the Canterbury Town Hall after casting his ballot February 9, 2016 in Canterbury, New Hampshire. (AFP photo)

The New Hampshire primary, the first in a series of presidential primary elections across the US and the second party contest, is currently underway in the Granite State.

Residents from the Northeastern state of New Hampshire began casting their votes on Tuesday morning to choose the party nominees for the presidential elections to be held in November.

A poll released on the eve of the New Hampshire primary gives Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders a 26 point lead over party front-runner Hillary Clinton.

According to the CNN/WMUR tracking poll, Sanders received 61 percent of the vote, to Clinton’s 35 percent.

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Bernie Sanders shakes hands with audience members after speaking at a campaign rally and concert at the University of New Hampshire on February 8, 2016. (AFP photo)
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (R) poses for a picture with Frank Fiorina, husband of Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, outside of a polling station at Gilbert H. Hood Middle School on February 9, 2016 in Derry, New Hampshire. (AFP photo)

Sanders has long been critical of US income inequality as well as US foreign policy. He was an early opponent of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The self-described socialist candidate is also an outspoken critic of racial discrimination in the criminal justice system and mass surveillance policies.

On the Republican side, leading party contender Donald Trump has a wide lead with 31 percent support among New Hampshire voters.  

He is followed by Marco Rubio, who earned 17 percent support, Ted Cruz at 14 percent, John Kasich at 10 percent and Jeb Bush at 7 percent.

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush greets voters outside the polling place at Webster School on primary day February 9, 2016 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (AFP photo)

Last week, Cruz won the Iowa GOP caucuses, while Clinton won the Democratic caucuses, narrowly beating Sanders. Clinton won the Iowa contest by the narrowest margin in state history.

Texas Senator and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz walks to his campaign bus after a town hall event at an American Legion post on February 8, 2016 in Manchester, New Hampshire.  (AFP photo)

 


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