While Howard Dean still holds a comfortable lead in the polls, the New Hampshire race is tightening.
In what is likely his final trip to the Granite State until after the Iowa Caucuses, Dean campaigned in the southern tier.
He reinforced the themes on what put him in the lead in the first place- voter empowerment and the war in Iraq.
New Hampshire Public Radio?s Dan Gorenstein reports.
Sfx: Rivier College
About 450 people have packed a Rivier College room in Nashua waiting to hear Howard Dean.
SS Badjwa is sitting in the front row.
He says he?s narrowed his choice down to three candidates: Dean, Senator John Kerry and retired General Wesley Clark.
Badjwa says, right now, Clark seems like the most likely to beat George Bush.
But he is fond of Dean.
5:22 it?s time to get someone who is more of a straight shooter. More of a do-the-right-thing regardless of all these special interests. And Howard Dean strikes me as somebody who would do that.
Dean presents himself a modern day Harry Truman.
A politician who says what he believes, with little regard for politics and polls.
But on the campaign trail sometimes that style can seem careless and impulsive.
His comment about appealing to people with Confederate flags on their pickups is just one example.
Some say those types of gaffes aren?t becoming of someone who aspires to be the President of the United States.
But supporters argue Dean?s blunt style coupled with his efforts to reach out to jaded voters helped propel him to his lead.
On the stump yesterday Dean, making allusions to the movements of the 60?s, reminded voters of the strength behind his campaign.
Track 10
9:52 The way this campaign started is we reached out to people who haven?t voted in a long time. a quarter of our financial support of donors are under 30 years old...and we can?t win without a new generation of Americans who want to stand up for their country again.
More than talk of empowerment, and candid comments, many agree Dean?s position on the war explains his lead.
That fact isn?t lost on the candidate.
Dean, early and often, brought up the issue.
Even when it wasn?t called for.
Like after a voter asked to hear about No Child Left Behind.
2:42 I disagreed with General Clark and Senator Kerry, and Senator Edwards and Dick Gephardt on the war issue. I thought that was a bad idea, b/c the president wasn?t telling us the facts.
For Dean, keeping the issue alive allows him to point out that he didn?t waver on the war.
But more importantly, as the race in New Hampshire narrows, Dean uses the war in Iraq as a way to distinguish himself from Wesley Clark.
He tried to strike a careful balance between bringing Clark down a notch without appearing to take a cheap shot.
9:52 .... And I don?t mind that he voted for Nixon, Regan that was a long time ago...what bothers me is he went out and raised money for the Republican Party, and said great things about Chenney, Rumsfeld, and George Bush, after he knew they were anti-choice...I do not think somebody ought to run the on the Democratic primary, and then make the general election a Republican primary between two Republicans.
Track 18
Sfx: break down room
Before SS Badjwa, heard Dean, he questioned the former Vermont Governor?s electability.
But now, after hearing him, Badjwa, walked out of the event impressed and excited.
He says he?s convinced that Dean can attract new voters.
Track 20
4:16 he?s practical, he?s not the old style liberal Democrat that will promise everything, and when they add up the bills ridiculous. I think he is financially conservative, and socially liberal.
Badjwa says that?s where he thinks most Americans lie.
With five days until the Iowa Caucuses, Dean seems intent to stick by the themes that brought him to the front of the Democratic Presidential pack.
But it?s unclear if those points can win over the still undecided voters.
For NHPR News, I?m DG.
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