Big turnout predicted for 2nd key battle in U.S. presidential nomination race

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Secretary of State of New Hampshire William Gardner predicted the second key battle of U.S. presidential nomination race will have a record voter turnout rate of 60 percent, ABC News reported Tuesday.

Analysts said that will help poll leaders from both parties, Democratic Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.

Polls ahead of the New Hampshire primary show that Obama is expanding his lead over Senator from New York Hillary Clinton among Democrats while McCain keeps leading over former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney.

ABC News said that 150,000 independents are expected to cast ballots, which will make a huge difference.

"If young people, independents, show up, Obama wins; if they don't, Clinton has a solid chance." said Tim Russert, anchor of NBC News.

"If independents don't vote for John McCain, Mitt Romney has a chance. If they show up, John McCain will win here big," he said.

Meanwhile, Clinton and Romney are trying to regain grounds lost in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses of Jan. 3.

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that both Clinton and Romney "unveiled new speeches, new music, and even new clothes."