New Hampshire’s somewhat surprising presidential primary results Tuesday—with Hillary Clinton and John McCain emerging as victors—have thrown the races wide open.

On the Republican side, it’s still anybody’s ballgame.  Any one of four or five candidates can emerge and secure the nomination, including Mike Huckabee, who has the worst record on animal protection. 

In advance of last night’s outcome, the pundits were suggesting that the Democratic race looked like it would go to Barack Obama.  But Clinton’s upset win has recalibrated that equation.  John Edwards is also still in the race, and cannot entirely be counted out. 

Now, there’s no doubt that races for each party’s nomination will be competitive for several more weeks, almost certainly through “Super Tuesday” on February 5, when more than 20 states hold contests.

Animal protection advocates should take advantage of this opportunity, and query the candidates on their stands on animal issues.  You should call their campaign offices in the states and ask where they stand if they have not already staked out positions.  Let them know that the humane treatment of animals is an important policy issue.  You can inject animal protection into the presidential debate, and let the candidates and the media know it’s important to voters of all political stripes.

The Washington Post reported that on Monday, the day before New Hampshire’s primary, a voter at the Nashua Rotary Club asked Mitt Romney what he would do as president to combat the overpopulation of pets.  He didn’t have much of a substantive answer, but it was probably the first time he thought about animal issues on the campaign trail.

Hearing from voters who care about animal protection will send the message that it’s not just good policy, but also good politics.