Story from the Associated Press:

The former Massachusetts governor won seven delegates, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson got two and California Rep. Duncan Hunter won one, meaning no other candidate could beat Romney. Caucuses were still being held to decide all 12 delegates at stake.

Senator Barack Obama and Former Governor Mike Huckabee were able to go to sleep last night with the knowledge that they were winners and have an avalanch of positive media attention to wake up to. Just kidding, they went to bed last night knowing today marked the beginning of the race for New Hampshire. Woo Hoo! With just a few days to go, a debates ahead for the weekend and what will no doubt become increased media speculation about their overall viability and positions on issues, the race has just begun.

So where do we stand in New Hampshire? These are the latest tracking polls taken before last night. So expect bumps to both Obama & Huckabee in the next polls but this helps us know where the state was just before the vote and in the next couple of days we will know where it stands just after.

Reuters/C-Span/Zogby tracking poll:

For Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton leads with 32%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 26%, and John Edwards at 20%.

For Republicans, Sen. John McCain leads with 34%, followed by Mitt Romney at 30%, and Mike Huckabee at 10%.

(Hat tip: Political Wire)

7NEWS/Suffolk University

For Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton is ahead of her rivals with 37% support, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 25% and John Edwards at 15%.

For Republicans, Mitt Romney leads with 29%, followed by Sen. John McCain at 25%, Mike Huckabee at 13% and Rudy Giuliani at 9%.

(Hat tip: again Politicalwire)

MUST GET SLEEP Goodnight all

10:50 PM EST - 1732 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 37.53%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 29.88%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.38%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.11%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.95%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.13%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.02%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1732 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

10:17 PM EST - 1700 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 37.39%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 29.95%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.47%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.12%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.92%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.12%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.02%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1700 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

10:03 PM EST - Republicans - 72% Reporting

Mike Huckabee 28,762 34% 0
Mitt Romney 21,213 25% 0
Fred Thompson 11,522 14% 0
John McCain 11,281 13% 0
Ron Paul 8,549 10% 0
Rudy Giuliani 3,053 4% 0
Duncan Hunter 366 0% 0

9:59 PM EST - 1640 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 37.15%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 30.00%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.61%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.14%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.95%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.13%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.03%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1640 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

9:51 PM EST - 1600 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 36.98%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 30.05%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.75%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.17%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.92%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.11%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.03%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1600 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

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The Politico is reporting that barring a surprise showing today in Iowa former Senator Fred Thompson will drop out and give his support to Senator John McCain.

Iowa – Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday’s Iowa caucus.

Thompson’s campaign, which last spring and summer was generating fevered anticipation in the media and with some Republican activists, has never ignited nationally, and there are no signs of a late spark happening here in Iowa, where even a third-place finish is far from assured.

However on two morning shows today Thompson denied the report:

CNN: Denied story about possibly dropping out, backing McCain. “I’ve never said that, I’ve never implied that, in public or in private.” Talked oil prices, CIA tapes. Repeated that having too much “personal ambition” is a danger for candidates.

Fox: Again denied story about dropping out, saying it was probably planted by rival campaign. “There is no such Thompson adviser. It is not something I have thought about or discussed with anybody.” Maintained he’s doing well in Iowa, said he didn’t get in the race late, others got in early. “We’ll see whether being in everyone’s face for two years and spending $100 million is necessary.”

The Obama campaign is celebrating new numbers from the final Des Moines Register poll before the caucuses. It shows Obama 32, Clinton 25, Edwards 24 with a margin of error at 3.5%. It also shows good news for Republican Mike Huckabee.

David Yespen of the Register looked over the numbers and gives cautious advice for both candidates.

Meanwhile the latest CNN/Opinion Dynamics polls have difference news. Clinton 33, Obama 31, Edwards 22 while on the Republican side Rommey 31, Huckabee 28, Thompson 13.

So what do we know? Honestly, almost nothing. There are different theories for how almost any Republican could take Iowa and how any of the top three Democrats can. In the Democratic race especially, knowing that some voters will be able to caucus twice and that both Clinton & Obama have courted new voters while Edwards has been staying steady with tried and true ones seems to be leaving everyone with mixed feelings.

My advice? If anyone professes to you that they know what the outcome will be, whether a friend, teacher, pundit or candidate, don’t trust them because they have no idea.