From The Road
December 29, 2007 3:56 PM

McCain's Crowds Swell in N.H.

By
Allison O'Keefe
Topics
John McCain
(CBS)
From CBS News' Dante Higgins:

MERRIMACK, N.H. --Something has shifted here in NH. As we got off the bus and headed into another town hall, we get word from McCain's advance team that the room is packed.

"Good luck getting in there," campaign staffer Justin Stevens yelled to the press as he ushered the Senator off the bus.

For the second time in a row today, McCain's events were mobbed by voters and press. This morning he addressed about 500 people in a church basement - one of the largest crowds he's had in a while.

This afternoon a VFW Hall in Merrimack was also packed to the gills for the McCain's appearance. It was standing room only in this hall (capacity 400) with voters pouring down the stairs and out of both entrances to the building. Those left in the cold including some reporters and McCain staffers resorted to standing in the parking lot listening through open windows. Lately, after events end, people have been walking away with lawn signs and at this Merrimack event many stayed behind and watched his press conference.

Among the onlookers was the Spierer family who saw McCain in 2000 but brought their daughter for the first time.

Mrs. Spierer is a registered Democrat but wishes she could vote for McCain, "because he has the clarity, the consistency, the strength. Even if I don't agree 100 percent with everything he has to say I can trust him."

The Spierer's have met all of the presidential candidates running this year and take their role as primary voters seriously. They fondly recall memories of running into previous candidates like 1992 Democratic candidate Bob Kerrey in pizza shops and being able to ask him questions.

"Later on a friend of mine in the supermarket said, 'I liked Mr. Kerrey's answer to your question. I'm going to vote for him.'" Mrs. Spierer explained. "There's no other place you can have that kind of personal touch and be able to relate to the candidates on a one to one level and it's very important to us."

Add a Comment See all 27 Comments
by dwmcgill December 31, 2007 11:47 PM EST
Truthfully, I think the ''counter-culture'' aspect of Ron Paul''s candidacy strikes me as brilliant Democratic strategy.

Gotta give them kudo''s for understanding how to win the Presidency back. The lessons learned in the 90''s were quickly forgotten by the Dem''s.
Reply to this comment
by dwmcgill December 31, 2007 11:44 PM EST
Ron Paul?

Seriously....nothing more than a third party candidate and that only serves one function - to draw votes away from a Republican candidate who receives a strong majority of anti-abortion votes. A vote for Ron Paul assures (as Ross Perot did) a Democratic President.
Reply to this comment
by ricardo4max December 31, 2007 5:32 PM EST
McCain Supporters are liberals.
Reply to this comment
by berlin3000 December 31, 2007 4:59 PM EST
Some of you aniti-immigration folks should take an economics class. Since you have no idea how markets work or how shrinking populations have a drag down effect on the economy as a whole, all you can concentrate on is a few morsels thrown to you by your Republican Overlords (read panderers).

At least McCain has the guts to say what is right and not pander to a bunch of Bible Thumpers who by no means represent the majority of Americans.

We can all take solice in the statistics that show the more uneducated a person is, the least likely they will actually vote....
Reply to this comment
by berlin3000 December 31, 2007 4:59 PM EST
Some of you aniti-immigration folks should take an economics class. Since you have no idea how markets work or how shrinking populations have a drag down effect on the economy as a whole, all you can concentrate on is a few morsels thrown to you by your Republican Overlords (read panderers).

At least McCain has the guts to say what is right and not pander to a bunch of Bible Thumpers who by no means represent the majority of Americans.

We can all take solice in the statistics that show the more uneducated a person is, the least likely they will actually vote....
Reply to this comment
by jack624 December 31, 2007 4:22 PM EST
I''m a republican and I will NEVER vote for Senator Amnesty. Most of the people who are enthusiastic about McCain are not even republicans.

He arrogantly disregarded the wishes of not just the majority of repubicans, but also the majority of Americans, on this issue of illegal aliens. He claims its on principal but he is merely serving the interests of corporate America, specifically its need for a cheap pool of ignorant, compliant workers.

Also, his adopted third world daughter has made him soft on this issue. He cannot be trusted on immigration.
Reply to this comment
by meatpieandta December 31, 2007 4:04 PM EST
By swelling she must mean that the few who did show up brought their mothers so they could meet Mr. McCain''s mom.
Reply to this comment
by meatpieandta December 31, 2007 4:01 PM EST
The fear mongers are out in force today, claiming that Paul doesn''t have a chance to win. Oh ye of no faith. I bet you''re an entitlement swine!
Reply to this comment
by meatpieandta December 31, 2007 3:59 PM EST
The establishment is surely afraid of Ron Paul considering all the effort and lies they''re promoting. Pathetic little people they are, following the media'' anointed Rawmoney''s and McShames. Ron Paul is the only candidate offering a solid constitutional platform and the much needed change for ALL Americans.
Reply to this comment
by meatpieandta December 31, 2007 3:57 PM EST
Ron Paul''s crowds swelled even more.
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