News roundup: Huntsman top choice of a few N.H. groups, like ... Democrats

Romney's huge night. Huntsman's ticket to ride. Utah Dems chief may take another job.

Happy Wednesday, only sitting Republican presidents have ever won both Iowa and New Hampshire in the same election year. That is, until Mitt Romney did it last night. He crushed his opponents and moves on to South Carolina with some serious momentum. Ron Paul came in second and Jon Huntsman was third, but he did pick up one delegate [Trib] [UnionLeader] [WaPost]

The results: Romney 40%, Paul 23 %, Huntsman 17%

Topping the news: The exit polls show Romney's dominance in New Hampshire, while Huntsman won a few categories: Democrats, people who like Obama, people unhappy with the GOP candidates, and those who dislike the tea party. [CNN]

-> But Huntsman treated third place like a victory, saying it gave him a "ticket to ride" into South Carolina. [USAToday] [CBSNews] [USNews] [DNews]

Tweets of the day: From @DrChrisopolis: "Did you know: Populations of Iowa & New Hampshire go into hibernation for 4 years after voting & eating their weight in salmon."

From @buzzfeedben: "Wow: Just got my first anti-Mormon forward in a while. South Carolina, here we come."

From @jpodhoretz: "Huntsman says he has a ticket to ride. I feel he's a nowhere man. Ah. Look at all the lonely people."

Happy Birthday: to former State Rep. Jackie Biskupski and XMission founder and Dem Senate candidate Pete Ashdown.

In other news: Rolly reports that Utah Democratic Chairman Jim Dabakis is in the running to head the Human Rights Campaign, the largest gay and lesbian rights organization in the country. [Trib]

-> Among Peter Corroon's goals in his last year as Salt Lake County Mayor, he wants to push a convention center hotel and focus on energy efficient ordinances and buildings. [Trib] [DNews]

-> State Sen. Ross Romero, who wants to succeed Corroon, formally pledges not to seek re-election to the Legislature, clearing the way for Sen. Pat Jones to skip election this year. [Trib]

-> There's some infighting among state Senate Democrats over redistricting and the county mayor fight between Romero and state Sen. Ben McAdams. [UtahPolicy]

-> Bagley's take on SLC being labeled the gayest city in America. [Trib]

-> Davis County delegates select Todd Weiler to replace former Sen. Dan Liljenquist. [Trib]

-> WVC Mayor Mike Winder says job creation is job No. 1. [Trib]

-> Utah County's 4 percent job growth is third best in the nation. [Trib]

-> Orem City to fight aggressive panhandling. [Trib]

-> Protesters demand official pay more attention to safety on the issue of blended radioactive waste. State officials defend their decision to allow up to 40,000 cubic feet a year of the material to be disposed of in the state. [Trib] [DNews]

-> The GOP candidates who are vying for a shot at Jim Matheson, sure hope they share a ballot with Romney. [RollCall]

-> Utah boasts the lowest gas prices in the nation. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Some 100 people show up for a public discussion of what's wrong with Utah's liquor system. [Trib] [ParkRecord] [Fox13]

2012 watch: Why South Carolina means more than New Hampshire. [WaPost]

-> Keeping up his offensive on Romney's time as a venture capitalist, Newt Gingrich accuses him of 'looting.' [WaPost]

-> Stephen Colbert is a South Carolina native, but he is polling far behind most presidential candidates there, well, except for Huntsman. [PPPPolls]

-> The pro-Romney super PAC is spending big in Florida, hoping that a victory there will end the GOP contest. [WaPost]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz wraps up his trip to New Hampshire and heads back to Utah for the remainder of the week.

Gov. Gary Herbert attends an economic summit in St. George, holds media interviews and then participates in a discussion with high school and college students.

AG Mark Shurtleff attends the funeral of officer Jared Francom.

S.L. County Mayor Peter Corroon attends the Criminal Justice Advisory Counsil and meets with Granite School District Superintendent Martin Bates.

SLC County Mayor Ralph Becker visits with his community liaisons, hits a meeting about the Tour of Utah and then holds an education summit.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder judges a history fair at Valley Junior High.

President Barack Obama will host a forum called "Insourcing American Jobs" then the president will go to Chicago for a series of campaign events.

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.

— Matt Canham Twitter.com/mattcanham with editor Dan Harrie