Over the past three days a lot of New Hampshire voters have bounced from one political event to another.
Many voters are finally beginning to draw distinctions and make a choice who to support.
New Hampshire Public Radio’s Dan Gorenstein spoke with voters along the campaign trail and has this report.
DG: On Friday night, about 3000 people came out for the state Democratic Party’s fundraiser.
So many people had crowded the stage to see Obama that it had become a fire hazard.
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Sfx: 2:33 ladies and gentleman, for safety concerns, before we can proceed, please take your seats. (groan)
DG: But before people could even make it back to their seats, the Illinois Senator came out...
Sfx: 3:35 Senator Barack Obama. (cheer)
DG:...and people instantaneously spun back and surged forward, nearly running.
Obama left people in this typically subdued crowd dancing after his speech.
But just when it seems like the Democratic race here is Barak Obama’s to lose, 39 hours later something like this happens.
Sfx: Hill-a-ry....Hill-a-ry....Hill-a-ry
DG: On a cold, overcast Sunday afternoon a line of people stretching at least a half a mile long had come to the Nashua North High School gymnasium to see the former First Lady.
And many who had waited to get inside like Kay Louker were with her.
Louker says she really saw a difference between Clinton and Obama during Saturday night’s debate.
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Kay Louker: 1:34 the discussions about foreign policy, I felt like Bill Richardson and Hillary Clinton were giving answers with more examples and substance, whereas...the other two, the answers were still in generalities.
DG: Those who don’t like Obama, say they find him either inexperienced, vague, or both.
But according to a Sunday evening tracking poll done by the University of New Hampshire, he has still taken a ten point lead over Clinton.
As for the Republicans, Iowa caucus winner Mike Huckabee isn’t doing so well.
The state has far fewer social conservatives.
In his speech Saturday with cult-hero Chuck Norris at his side, Huckabee only made one overt religious reference.
Teresa Bishop says safety, not abortion or gay marriage, seems to be more important to many of her conservative friends and neighbors.
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Teresa Bishop: 2:26 I hope he surprises us....a lot of our friends are looking at the terrorist issue, foreign policy and they think McCain is going to deal with that.
According to that same tracking poll, McCain is running ahead with a six point lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
It’s really not surprising that McCain is doing well here.
He won back in 2000.
And he’s spent more time here than most of his rivals.
But what continues to be his strength is his ability to woo Independents like Katy Wolf, who make up over 40% of the electorate.
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Katy Wolf: 2:18 I like his independence, I like that he is a moderate Republican, I like that he is willing to cross the aisle. I appreciate him going out and meeting with voters and taking tough questions.
DG: Whether it’s his independent streak, or his time as a Prisoner of War, many voters feel like McCain is genuine and trustworthy.
The most common question about the Senator is whether he’s too old for the job.
The biggest question Republicans seem to have for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is whether believes in anything other than becoming president.
DG: What’s really clear is that many Republicans are still shopping.
The University of New Hampshire tracking poll found that only 44% of voters knew who they were definitely going to support.
I asked Lisa Berudi if she had to vote in five minutes, who she’d back.
Her eyes bulgedt, and she puffed her cheeks.
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Lisa Berudi: 1:43 I’d probably, oh, I don’t know. I would struggle right now. I don’t know what I would do.
DG: For Berudi and all those other undecided voters still out there, Monday offers at least 47 separate presidential campaign events to make up their minds.
For NPR News, I’m DG in Concord, NH.
To add my two cents to this article, it's interesting to see the break-down of those who support each of the Democratic front-runners. Obama seems to be preferred by independents, and it'll be interesting to see how women will choose between him and Hillary.