Doesn't seem big in retrospect: NH has always supported McCain. To me the unexpected win in South Carolina was the watershed moment in his campaign.

Significant in the respect that it demonstrated that McCain isn't politically dead after his campaign nearly self-destructed due to poor management.  I think McCain is really benefitting from the highly fractured nature of the race.  In 2000 when he ran against George W. Bush, he didn't have that benefit, as much of the Republican establishment was backing him at the time.  This time around, the establishment doesn't have a favorite candidate, so McCain can win by relying on his base of conservative independents who remain loyal to him.  It should be noted that McCain's win in New Hampshire wasn't as convincing as his win there in 2000, and although he won South Carolina yesterday, he perceentage total there was still significantly less than what he got there 8 years ago.  Huckabee would have won had Fred Thompson not split the evangelical vote.  So essentially Thompson's role in the race is to act as a spoiler for Huckabee, and that only helps McCain and the other moderate candidates in the race.  This race is far from well-defined--indeed, I'm expecting a brokered convention, something which has not happened for the GOP since General Dwight D. Eisenhower captured the nomination in 1952.

This was significant enough to let us know that the Republican party has not been completely overrun by the evangelical movement. Well...atleast not in all 50 states.

I'm thrilled to see McCain digging in and making some noise. He's an impressive guy. Honorable, brave, and politically fearless. He's also qualified to be President. I hope he leaves the other Republicans by the wayside.

Certainly significant, but not the overwhelming 'suprise' that people keep trumping about. . .Huckabee's liability as being Bush-religious-stupid, Romney's ties to the Mormon church (cult), and Guiliani's attempt to be the president of 9-11 pretty much left McCain the door to NH- a place where he's done well in the past. . .not a real suprise, but a nice revival for a decent guy. . .

This is big. Since Fred Thompson is dead man walking, Huckabee is a regional candidate, and Romney disliked, by process of elimination, McCain is the 2008 political Dracula and rises from the political dead to become the probable GOP candidate. Richard Nixon had a similar revival.

George Romney, Mitt Romney's father, was the GOP favorite in those dayus.

*sniff* Looks like I may get to vote for him after all...