MANCHESTER, NH — Sen. Bernie Sanders is pulling away in the New Hampshire primary, leading with 27.7 percent of the vote with nearly half of Granite State districts reporting.

Ex-South Bend, Ind. mayor Pete Buttigieg is close behind in second place with 23.4 percent, making him a major contender despite being constantly criticized for his lack of Washington experience.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota is also emerging as a surprise victor with 46 percent of precincts reporting, according to CNN — picking up 19.5 percent of New Hampshire voters thus far after her disappointing fifth-place finish in last week’s Iowa caucus.

The early results put some distance between Sanders and Buttigieg after they virtually tied in Iowa.

It has been a devastating night for the campaigns of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former vice president Joe Biden who are trailing in fourth and fifth place, respectively, with 9.4 percent and 8.6 percent.

Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang and Colorado Senator Michael Bennet also suspended their campaigns.