DIXVILLE – Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama were the winners this morning when the first New Hampshire residents went to the polls.

The 17 voters, including four cast absentee, favored McCain, giving him four votes to Romney's two and Giuliani's one, while Democrats overwhelmingly voted for Obama with seven votes, followed by John Edwards with two and one for Bill Richardson.

One new resident of Dixville registered as the polls opened, bumping the total number of voters -- representing 100 percent of eligible voters in the community -- to 17, down a bit from the 24 or so voters who turned out in 2004.

The later the hour, the more action there was as Dixville Notch ticked down the minutes to the open vote of the New Hampshire Presidential Primary.

At 10:45 p.m., Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter arrived. Just before 11:30 p.m., Mitt Romney's son, Craig, showed up, with little fanfare. There was some buzz around the ballroom that Bill Richardson would come, but it turned out his plane was unable to land at the Berlin Municipal Airport in Milan.

About 30 minutes later, the dozen voters staying up for the midnight first-in-the-nation balloting gathered around for a drawing from an old hotel chamber pot to see who would cast the first ticket.

Donna K. Erwin, wife of town clerk Rick Erwin, won the draw. In years past, the late Neil Tillotson had that honor. After his death in 2001, residents could place their name in a hat for casting that first vote.

This year, a total of 16 voters were registered; one Democrat, three Republicans and 12 independents. Four of those voters cast absentee ballots.

High school students from Groveton and Lancaster came to watch democracy in action.

Votes were also cast in Hart's Location.

The Associated Press reported that Obama received nine votes, Hillary Rodham Clinton received three and John Edwards received one. On the Republican side, McCain received six, Mike Huckabee received five, Ron Paul received four and Mitt Romney one.