For '08, big money cuts both ways

When asked if Obama's race will affect how he does in New Hampshire, one local Democrat replied that he thought it would help the senator – despite the fact that this state has only a small minority population.

"People in New Hampshire like the underdog," says Don Routhier, an attorney from Somersworth, N.H., attending an Obama forum at a VFW hall in East Rochester, N.H. "They like the fact that he's not the establishment candidate," he adds, referring to Clinton.

"He has the 'it' factor," says Michael Sullivan, a radio broadcaster from Dover, N.H. "I'm too young to have seen Bobby Kennedy, but I get the sense that he's like that, he's got that charisma." But even if both men seem favorably disposed to Obama, they stress that it's early, and they plan to go to other candidates' events before committing to anyone. After all, says Mr. Sullivan, "we're used to making this decision while the snow is falling, not melting."

At Obama's second event of the day, the healthcare town hall, some attendees expressed frustration at the senator's performance. He spent two hours listening to voters' tales of woe about health insurance, interjecting his own questions and comments, but came to no conclusions. In fact, that was the point: Two staffers took notes, which will be posted on Obama's campaign website. As the senator formulates his healthcare proposal, visitors to the site will be allowed to comment in a new-style interactive policymaking process.

But to Clif Horrigan, a retiree from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in nearby Durham, the event was frustrating. "I was hoping he would spell out some general principles," she said. "Instead, he kept sliding off people's stories, and I couldn't get a feel for what he believes in."

In polls of New Hampshire Democrats, Obama still ranks second, behind Clinton. In the latest CNN/WMUR poll conducted by UNH and released April 3, Obama is statistically tied with former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina. Clinton has slipped to 27 percent, Mr. Edwards has risen to 21 percent, and Obama is at 20 percent.

Whether Obama's big splash on fund-raising totals will affect the polls remains to be seen. And besides, many political analysts say it's too early to give the polls serious consideration in any case. "I'm a believer that they're meaningless," says Linda Fowler, a political scientist at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H.

Many voters, too, are still in those early days of exploring their choices. Dana Pearson, a retired real estate agent in Laconia, N.H., came out of an event Tuesday for Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut – a dark-horse Democratic candidate – still not even sure which party's primary he will vote in when the time comes. He used to be a Republican, and now he's an independent.

And what does he think of the early start to the campaign and unprecedented levels of fundraising? "It's wasteful – a waste of time and money," says Mr. Pearson, noting his Scottish heritage and reputation for frugality.

Page: 1 | 2