New Hampshire Primary Day: Midnight votes in Dixville Notch, Hart’s Location

On the campaign trail with Felicia Sonmez

It’s only 6 a.m., but the first ballots have already been cast in the New Hampshire primary — and the results, as they have been throughout the primary season, are fractured.

Dixville Notch and Hart’s Location — the two northern New Hampshire communities that traditionally vote at midnight on primary day — cast the first votes of the first-in-the-nation primary early Tuesday.

Romney tied with former Utah governor Jon Huntsman (R) in Dixville Notch, with each candidate winning a total of two votes out of nine cast. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) took one vote, as did Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). The remaining three voters cast their ballots for President Obama.

In Hart’s Location, Romney took five votes, compared to four votes for Paul. Huntsman took two votes, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) took one and Gingrich took one.

The results mean that — at least for the few hours until the rest of the Granite State awakens — Romney leads the field with seven votes, while Paul has a total of five, Huntsman has a total of four, and Gingrich takes two.

The results are far from determinative, but they at least provide a glimpse into how things may go on the trail later today.