Two frontrunners score well in Iowa

Al Gore and George W. Bush both placed well ahead of their respective challengers. The Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa -- Republican George W. Bush won Iowa's kickoff caucuses last night, besting upstart Steve Forbes to set the stage for a three-way presidential primary fight in New Hampshire between Bush, Forbes and John McCain. And Democrats gave Al Gore a thumping win over Bill Bradley who said he had ''a little more humility'' and vowed to push his challenge. ''I can't wait to get to New Hampshire,'' was Gore's battle cry and he said he'd be campaigning today at dawn. The results set the stage for a dramatic week in New Hampshire, the first in a furious flurry of primary elections that could determine the presidential nominations by March 7. Bush described the caucus results as validation of his compassionate conservative agenda. ''It's a solid victory and I'm humbled,'' he said as the presidential campaigns put the best-possible spins on their finishes. The Texas governor called his victory ''record-shattering'' and roused supporters with the vow, ''Tonight is the beginning of the end of the Clinton era.'' Forbes was at least as happy with the results, saying, ''We vastly overperformed the polls and have emerged as the conservative candidate'' going into New Hampshire. Gore outpolled Bradley 63 percent to 35 percent, and the former New Jersey senator said, ''Tonight I have a little more humility but no less confidence that I can win and do the job.'' Looking ahead to New Hampshire, Gore and Bradley are locked in a tie in Granite State polls. McCain, a Republican senator from Arizona, holds a slight lead over Bush in most New Hampshire GOP polls, and he hopes to sustain it even after bypassing Iowa. Forbes has been a distant third in New Hampshire, but hopes his Iowa showing will improve his numbers. With results from 95 percent of Iowa's counties, Bush had 41 percent of the caucus vote and Forbes 30 percent. Former ambassador and talk show host Alan Keyes was a respectable third at 14 percent, with Gary Bauer at 9 percent, McCain 5 and Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch just 1 -- not even 900 votes. Hatch planned a news conference for today, and an adviser said he was likely to drop out of the race. Bauer was said to be deeply disappointed and assessing the future of his candidacy, but told 50 supporters he would forge on to New Hampshire. ''I wasn't raised to be a quitter,'' he said. Gore's big margin blunted Bradley's challenge going into New Hampshire where Bradley has polled even with Gore, or even ahead. Bradley congratulated the vice president for his ''strong showing,'' giving no hint of what aides say are plans to be more critical of Gore in coming days.