A softer image of Senator Hillary Clinton helped propel the former first lady to a surprise victory in the New Hampshire race for the Democratic party presidential nomination, aides said.

After a disappointing third-place finish in the Iowa caucus last week, the typically stoic Clinton showed a more vulnerable side in New Hampshire.

On Monday the New York senator choked up and her eyes filled with tears while meeting New Hampshire voters. The emotional moment was unusual for Clinton, who normally has kept her feelings to herself, even during revelations about her husband's affair with a White House intern.