Hillary Clinton is at risk of seeing her once high-flying Democratic campaign buried under rival Barack Obama's surge, as voters go to the polls in the US state of New Hampshire.
Five days after finishing a disappointing third in Iowa, the former first lady trails Mr Obama by double digits in many New Hampshire polls and had to reassure supporters yesterday that she was staying in the race.
For Barack Obama, a US Senator from Illinois, a win in New Hampshire would solidify his hold on the top spot for the Democratic nomination.
In a hard-fought Republican battle, Senator John McCain of Arizona still holds a narrow lead over Mitt Romney, the former governor of neighbouring Massachusetts who has poured tens of millions of his personal wealth into the race.
Ms Clinton and Mr Romney are both under heavy pressure to revive their campaigns after disappointing showings in Iowa caucuses. Until recently Mitt Romney led polls in Iowa and New Hampshire, but he finished second in Iowa to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.
A new Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll showed Mr Obama expanding his lead over Clinton to 13 points, 42% to 29%, with former North Carolina Senator John Edwards in third at 17%.
John McCain leads Mr Romney 36% to 27% in the Republican race, with Mr Huckabee at 10%.
Primary target
New Hampshire's primary is an important battleground in the state-by-state process of choosing Republican and Democratic candidates for November's election to replace President George W Bush.
Polls close in New Hampshire at 8pm (1am Irish time) with early results expected soon after.
A record turnout is predicted in what is becoming one of the most wide open US presidential races in more than 50 years.
The tiny mountain hamlet of Dixville Notch opened the state's voting shortly after midnight, as it has for every election since 1960, in a balloting display more media circus than civic event.
Minutes later all 17 of its registered voters had cast their ballots.
Results written on a board in the ballroom where balloting took place showed Mr Obama with seven votes, John Edwards with two and Bill Richardson with one, on the Democratic side. There were no votes for Hillary Clinton.
John McCain was the Republican victor with four votes, while Mitt Romney took two and Rudolph Giuliani one.
In the final hours of the state's campaign yesterday, candidates focused on driving home their message and firing up supporters to turn out.
Ms Clinton closed the day with a final rally in Manchester with her husband, former US President Bill Clinton.
Earlier, she became emotional at a stop in Portsmouth, her eyes welling up with tears and voice choking as she discussed why she was seeking the presidency. But she still managed to take a shot at Mr Obama.
With a quaking voice she discussed why she was seeking the presidency and warned 'some of us are ready and some of us are not.'
