was quickly named the winner in the Granite State after maintaining a commanding lead in the polls.

With 28 percent of precincts reporting, Kasich was in second with 15 percent of the vote. Jeb Bush andfollowed, with 12 percent each.claimed 10 percent.

“He showed that a conservative with a positive message will succeed and, in fact, that’s the only way for Republicans to win the White House. As the governor of Ohio he knows how to do it.”

“Governor Kasich is now the leading governor in the race and the only one with a realistic chance at the nomination,” Senior Strategist John Weaver said.

The Ohio governor had pinned his hopes on the Granite State.

He was battling with Bush, Rubio and Chris Christie in the establishment lane of the race.

Kasich’s second-place finish will give him a boost going into the next round of state elections and could keep him in the race until his home state’s primary March 15.

The Ohio governor needed a strong performance in New Hampshire after coming in eighth place in last week’s Iowa caucuses, with less than 2 percent.

Last month, Kasich himself conceded that he would drop out if he did poorly in the New Hampshire primary.

"If I get smoked in New Hampshire, then you know, kind of, the ballgame is over ... because then it becomes very hard to raise money," he said at the time.