Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump have blown open the US presidential race with significant victories in the New Hampshire primary.

The results will hand the winners the momentum going into the next confrontations in South Carolina for the Republicans and Nevada for the Democrats.

Bernie Sanders, the self-styled Democratic-socialist, pulled off a significant victory:“We will need to come together in a few months and unite this party and this nation because the right-wing Republicans we oppose must not be allowed to gain the presidency.”

The winner in Iowa Hillary Clinton was well-beaten in New Hampshire, but is still considered favourite for the Democratic nomination.

Republican Donald Trump turned his high standing in the opinion polls into an election victory for the first time.

Trump treated the crowd to more of his populist rhetoric: “I am going to be the greatest jobs president that God ever created. Remember that… We are going to make our country so strong. We are going to start winning again. We don’t win anymore as a country. We don’t win on trade. We don’t win with the military. We can’t beat ISIS.”

It remains unclear which Republican candidate will gain the support of the establishment, but insiders suggest it could be Ohio Governor John Kasich after Marco Rubio flopped in a televised debate.

Iowa winner Ted Cruz has a rocky relationship with a number of his Republican colleagues in Congress.

Euronews