MANCHESTER, N.H., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- With 19 percent of precincts reporting, Sen. John Kerry surged to a strong early lead in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night.
One network, CBS, projected Kerry would win.
The early returns gave the Massachusetts senator 38 percent and a strong 14 percentage points over former Vermont governor Howard Dean who came in a clear second with 24 percent. Earlier exit polls had suggested a far closer race, United Press International reported.
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Wesley Clark trailed far behind in joint third with only 13 percent each and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, as polls had predicted, was out of the running entirely, trailing far behind in fifth.
Earlier, campaign sources in New Hampshire had said Lieberman was considering pulling out of the presidential race entirely if he finished that low down.
