MACHESTER, NH – The polls had barely closed before just about all of the major networks called the election. Bernie Sanders (D) and Donald Trump (R) each were far ahead by comfortable double-digit leads, the only drama remaining which of the Republicans would finish in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th slots, which were up for grabs among Iowa winner Ted Cruz, establishment favorites Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, and John Kasich, who put all his eggs into the Granite State, and it looks like it’s paying off at least for the moment.

If the results are confirmed, Chris Christie will finish a disappointing sixth, perhaps leading to an earlier-than-expected departure from the race. Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson were a distant seventh and eighth, and Jim Gilmore wasn’t even a blip on the radar screen.

The primaries next turn to Nevada and South Carolina within the next two weeks, before the Super Tuesday sweepstakes on March 1.