Well the New Hampshire primary is over, and everyone heads to South Carolina for the next truly pivotal referendum. I’ll admit, I was caught up in the supposed “Barack Phenomenum” as much as anyone – and I still think he’s the Democrats best chance for taking the White House in November – but you have to hand it to John McCain and Hillary Clinton for their victories tonight.

So who are the real winners and losers tonight?

McCain’s a winner, but he needs to prove he can win amongst Republicans and conservatives, as there’s no doubt he benefitted from the number of Independent voters that came over to his side in New Hampshire. Michigan and South Carolina, in that regard, will be crucial tests.

Hillary, of course, is a winner, but her campaign needs to realize that in two referendums on her candidacy thus far, a majority of Democrats have voted for other candidates than her. This should be a warning sign to her, especially if John Edwards and Bill Richardson were to drop out in the near term.

Mitt Romney is on very thin ice. He needs to she he can win a Republican primary, so Michigan is very important to him right now. If he loses Michigan – especially if he does so to McCain – he’s toast.

Fred Thompson, as much as I like him and would love to see him as the GOP nominee, is done, as is Bill Richardson, John Edwards, and resident wacko Ron Paul (thank God!). Time for these guys to take a hint and endorse the people who have an honest chance.

Neither Barack or Mike Huckabee are winners or losers. I watched Obama’s concession speech and still feel he would be the tougher of the Democratic candidates for the GOP to face. There are way too many people who would claw their way into the ballot box just for an opportunity to vote against Hillary. And, like me, a lot of conservatives who respect him and his message enough to at least consider voting for him in a general election – something that would never happen with Hillary Clinton. Without a doubt, she is a loser for the Democrats.

So it’s on to South Carolina. With no front-runners in either races, it promises to be an interesting next couple of weeks.