The nine Democratic candidates for President faced off at UNH last night.
Most of the ninety minute debate centered on the war in Iraq.
With less than 50 days before the election, a recent poll suggests about one quarter of likely voters remain undecided.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein spoke with some still uncommitted after the debate.
Many people at the debate last night already knew who they wanted to be the next president of the United States.
Outside, hundreds of supporters endured the cold, chanting, marching, waving signs, and a few even playing bagpipes for their candidate.
UNH sophomore Amanda Richmond bypassed the circus-like atmosphere, opting to watch the debate with her two roommates in a university theater.
There, Richmond says could actually get a sense of the people behind the names.
1:23 for me the debates actually humanized the candidates. You hear a lot about the candidates, but you don?t usually see what they stand for, what they are passionate about, and you can actually see them get into the issues, and make their points known.
All three roommates agreed, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry appeared the most able to balance foreign issues with domestic ones.
Laura Mistrofsky says an internship with New Hampshire Public Television helped her become familiar with the candidates.
But after the debate, the sophomore political science minor says she learned something new.
:14 one thing that surprised me, I had no desire to listen to what Gephardt had to say, but hearing what he had to say if it's good enough for the army to pay for college kids education, and have them serve after they are done is a brilliant idea, if you are going to train to be a teacher...it's a great idea to pay compensate for their student loans.
The three UNH students felt as though they got a lot out of the debate, but not everyone found it so useful.
Roger Stevenson is a voter from Stratham. only when pressed,
Only when pressed, Stevenson say who might get his vote.
:50 I would look at the candidates who have spent more time trying to drill into paying attention to domestic policy, and domestic issues. Tonight, if it was a snapshot, it was John Edwards.
Stevenson quickly adds that there are still six weeks before the election.
A number of people complained last night?s debate failed to offer new insights into policy differences or pictures of personality.
In particular, viewers said the debate excessively focused on the war in Iraq and largely ignored domestic issues such as health, education and the environment.
Marty Kappedeis is no stranger to politics.
He is married to former New Hampshire Democratic candidate for Governor Arnie Arnesen.
Kappedeis says too much of the debate seemed aimed more at political junkies.
Track 49
2:34 I don't think it's going to influence anybody. I would be very surprised if any mind's were changed tonight...in my mind, there have been six-eight, five seven, and each one of them has had its own merits, I don't think the one tonight had any of its own merits.
Prior to the Durham debate, the hype surrounding it promised a lively exchange that would bring out the differences among candidates right before voters went home for the holidays.
But if the goal was to give people lots to talk about at the office Christmas party, it's not clear that the Durham debate delivered.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
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