Kerry Looks Ahead After Big N.H. Victory

New Hampshire primary winner John Kerry (news - web sites) took firm control of the Democratic presidential race as it moved out of his backyard and went nationwide, his rivals bidding to stay competitive in the seven-state contest ahead.


Kerry's win Tuesday added a bigger margin of victory to his Iowa upset a week earlier, giving him all the promise — and peril — of wearing the mantle of front-runner.


"Now this campaign goes on to places all over this country, and I ask Democrats everywhere to join us so that we can defeat George W. Bush and the economy of privilege," the Massachusetts senator, relaxed and beaming, told supporters Tuesday night.


Howard Dean (news - web sites), once the heavy national favorite, finished second and Wesley Clark (news - web sites), once considered the best bet to challenge him, lagged in a struggle for a distant third — all of that testament to a campaign turned on its ear over the course of a week.

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