good showing

[rrffD6H]

This is a part from The Economist, 2012 Jan 14, Politics This Week:

"As expected, Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire primary by a huge margin, leaving the other Republican presidential candidates in his wake. Rick Santorum, who did well in Iowa, placed a lowly fifth. Jon Huntsman, who had pinned all his hopes on a good showing, came third."

What does "good showing" mean here? A high turnout?

Thank you!

 

[Florentia52]

Did you remember to search first, rrffD6H? Here is the relevant definition from the WR dictionary:

a performance considered for the impression it makes:
The first woman candidate from that district made a strong showing at the polls.

 

[The Newt]

[...]

What does "good showing" mean here? A high turnout?

Thank you!

Not necessarily a high turnout, but a high number of votes for him relative to the other candidates. He needed to do well in that primary in order to keep his candidacy alive.

 

[rrffD6H]

Did you remember to search first, rrffD6H? Here is the relevant definition from the WR dictionary:

a performance considered for the impression it makes:
The first woman candidate from that district made a strong showing at the polls.

Thank you. I thought "pin his hope on" here means "rely on", so he "relied on a 'good showing' to have a good result". That's why I was confused

 

[kentix]

He relied on a good result to keep his hope alive that he might be successful in the long run. A bad result might force him to give up permanently.