Former Gov. Mitt Romney was seriously wounded in the presidential primary in neighboring New Hampshire Tuesday and now local supporters of Sen. John McCain are aiming to beat Romney in his home state.

Michael McCue, a former Mansfield selectman and McCain backer, said he received a telephone call from McCain headquarters Tuesday night with the go-ahead for ramping up a Massachusetts campaign.

"I think he stands a good shot of taking Massachusetts, as well," McCue said of McCain.

McCue said McCain carried the Massachusetts primary in 2000 and is well thought of in the state.

Romney has the backing of most of the Republican establishment in Massachusetts, but the New Hampshire loss has set him back. McCain beat Romney by a 37 percent to 31 percent margin, according to election results about 11 p.m. On the Democratic side, Sen. Hillary Clinton appeared to have won a narrow victory over Sen. Barack Obama.

"Romney is the biggest loser of the night," said Charles Dunn, dean of the School of Government at Regents University. "It was really a great victory for John McCain."

Dunn said Romney had all the advantages in the race in that he is from a neighboring state, had far more money to spend and had a large lead weeks ago.

But, Dunn said there is a disconnect between Romney and voters that prevents them from warming to him.

He said Romney's candidacy is in trouble as the campaign heads south to South Carolina, where Romney's Mormon faith will not go over well and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has the support of evangelic Christians.

"In South Carolina, there is a Southern Baptist church on every street corner," he said.

Exit polls in New Hampshire found Republican voters actually favor Romney on the issues, but liked McCain's personality and character.

"New Hampshire really has an affinity for John McCain because he doesn't mince words," McCue said.

A Romney supporter, state Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, said she admires McCain, too, but his positions on issues like illegal immigration will hurt the party if he is the nominee.

"He doesn't stand for a lot of the things the Republican party stands for," she said. Poirier said she wonders if McCain won because voters are concerned about the war and terrorism and believe McCain with his military and foreign policy experience can keep them safe.

The loss by Romney is disappointing, she said, and hard to understand.

Poirier wondered, if voters are looking for change, why are they voting for McCain?

"What happen to, 'In with the new and out with the old?' " she asked.

While there was no clear-cut winner between Clinton and Obama, it was evident the White House hopes of former Sen. John Edwards were damaged. He finished a distant third.

"There is no reason for him to go forward," Dunn said.

But, Edwards, in a rousing speech late Tuesday night, said he was staying in the race and fighting on.

The tight race on the Democratic side kept local activists up late watching television coverage.

Ellen Parker of Attleboro, a member of the Democratic State Committee, said Clinton's strong performance means she is in good shape to continue the campaign.

"Absolutely, it keeps her alive. I think it is going to be a long race right to the end," she said.

Parker, who said she has been a fan of Clinton's since she spoke as first lady at Hyman Fine Elementary School, disagreed with commentators who said an incident in which Clinton got teary eyed was the turning point in New Hampshire.

Darren Major of Attleboro, an Obama supporter, said he was reluctant to admit Clinton gets to call herself "the comeback kid," just as her husband did in 1992.

He said the race was so close, there is nothing for Obama to feel bad about.

Most polls had predicted Obama would win handily, but Major said independents who were expected to support Obama may have voted for McCain in the Republican race.

"It looks like the battle is going to go on," Major said.