Outsiders Sanders and Trump still on course in their presidential bids

Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump were moving on from commanding wins in the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary to more diverse states that will challenge their transformation from outsider candidates to their parties’ presidential nominees.

The next Republican contest is the February 20 South Carolina primary, which will test Mr Trump’s staying power. Next for Democrats is the Nevada caucus on the same day.

The ultimate winner of the two party’s nominations might not be known until the summer, after which they will prepare for the nationwide presidential contest in November.

Mr Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, easily beat Hillary Clinton, a former US secretary of state and first lady once seen as the all-but-certain Democratic nominee.

With more than 90 per cent of the vote counted in New Hampshire, Mr Sanders had 60 per cent to Mrs Clinton’s 38 per cent.

Mr Trump, the billionaire and TV personality who has never held public office, had 35 per cent among the Republicans, with moderate Ohio governor John Kasich a distant second with 16 per cent.

“We are going to make America so great again,” Mr Trump told a raucous crowd. “Maybe greater than ever before.”

Texas senator Ted Cruz finished third in New Hampshire, former Florida governor Jeb Bush was fourth and Florida senator Marco Rubio was fifth. Less than a percentage point separated each of those positions.

“I think they’re all really potential threats,” Mr Trump said of his rivals on Wednesday on MSNBC. “But I’m OK at handling threats.”

Mr Kasich, who surged from relative obscurity in New Hampshire, has a poorly funded campaign that will struggle to keep up momentum in South Carolina and beyond.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie was expected to drop out after finishing sixth in New Hampshire.

He told supporters that instead of going to South Carolina, he will head home to “take a deep breath” and take stock of his struggling bid.

For some Republican leaders, back-to-back victories by Mr Trump and Mr Cruz, an uncompromising conservative, add urgency to the need to coalesce around a more mainstream candidate. Tuesday’s vote did little to clarify who that might be.

Mr Sanders’ campaign launched ads Wednesday in Oklahoma, Minnesota, Colorado and Massachusetts – all states where they believe the Vermont senator can grow.

Mrs Clinton’s campaign argues she will perform better as the race heads to more racially diverse states, including Nevada and South Carolina.

Civil rights activist the Rev Al Sharpton said he met with Mr Sanders on Wednesday to discuss issues that affect the African-American community, including affirmative action and police brutality.

Mr Sharpton said he will not endorse a candidate until he and various heads of national civil rights organisations meet with Mrs Clinton next week.

Nevada has been considered Clinton territory, in part because of her strong relationships to the Latino community and longtime Democrats in the state.

At stake Tuesday were less than 1 per cent of the delegates who, at party national conventions in July, will choose nominees to succeed Barack Obama. But a strong showing in New Hampshire can give a candidate momentum ahead of coming state contests, including Super Tuesday’ on March 1 when 11 states vote. Mr Trump, Mr Cruz and Mr Rubio have expansive organisations in South Carolina and other states. Mr Bush’s campaign have released a radio ad in South Carolina featuring his brother, ex president George W Bush.