Many political analysts see New Hampshire as one of the key battleground states in the upcoming presidential election.
A recent poll suggests that Democrat John Kerry's lead in the state has shrunk significantly since the primary.
If the Massachusetts Senator wants to carry the state he must convince all the Democrats and many Independents that he is their man.
And that means he has to rally the voters who call themselves Deaniacs.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein reports.
It was just like old times, sort of.
About 100 New Hampshire voters crowed into a living room to listen to former Vermont Governor Howard Dean slam the Bush Administration.
But this past Saturday night, instead of the familiar people-powered Howard refrain, Dean was trumpeting his old rival Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.
T. 15
6:30 people would ask me, so how could you suddenly swithch, it was a bitter campaign, a difficult campaign, we started out in this campaign to change America. We can't change America, unless we send George Bush back to Crawford, TX
The former Vermont Governor had come to this Concord house party to do more than caution people about the Bush Administration.
He came to praise John Kerry.
And he came to bury the concern that Kerry's campaign is struggling.
"The chattering classes in Washington are all writing, the Kerry campaign, not doing well, Kerry has to do this, blah, blah, blah. Well, last week, Kerry went to West Virginia and Ohio, he talked about jobs, the New York Times whined and moaned, just like they whined and moaned about this that or the other thing, but you know what was on the front page of every single paper in West Virginia and Ohio, Kerry talked about jobs, health care and national security. That is what is going to win us the election, not what's in the New York Times."
Sfx: house party
Howard Dean admitted, he was speaking to the converted.
Indeed, many in the room had ponied up $500 dollars just to attend.
But despite Dean's assurances, skepticism lingered.
Privately, a number of people wondered about Kerry's chances this fall.
They worried that the Massachusetts Senator doesn't have the energy and drive they found so attractive in Howard Dean.
Senator Kerry's brother Cameron Kerry played to those fears.
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:19 they have so much in common. Howard is a proud New Englander. John is a proud New Englander. Howard cares deeply about his country. John cares deeply about his country. Howard is a fiery and emotional orator. John cares deeply about his country. (laughter, mixed with applause)
With that one line, Cam Kerry delivered a plainspoken style statement many Dean supporters have come to expect from political events.
The sign hanging behind Dean and Kerry as they spoke read 'I'm a Dean Democrat, voting for John Kerry.'
The party's hosts, Gary and Meg Hershberg were- and still are- two of Dean's biggest New Hampshire supporters.
But Meg says don't mistake her connection to Dean with a lack of support for Kerry.
At this point, Hershberg says it's a luxury to like one candidate more than another.
T.2
4:27 (are you disappointed) if you're lying in the street starving, and someone comes along and hands you bread, you don't turn it down b/c it's not caviar...I don't think that way. I think we are in a desperate situation and we have to do anything to stop Bush.
In the past few weeks the Hershberg's say they have raised about $100 thousand dollars for Kerry.
Dean's organization Democracy for America has begun to organize for the presidential candidate.
And Democrats are still going to meetups, talking politics, and looking for ways to defeat President Bush.
Even with all the activity, Hershberg recognizes not all the Deaniacs share her commitment.
Track 4
:05 ...Everyone will vote for K. it's just a matter of how engaged they will be, how much money they will give, how much time they'll spend. I think there is no question it takes some time for people to lick their wounds and I think we are still in that process, but we are coming out of it...if Howard can get over it, we can too.
Sfx: party sound
That's what Chichester resident Barbara Sweet needed to hear.
She is one of those supporters that credit Dean with getting her politically active.
T. 19
3:27...being here tonight, and hearing Howard speak got me excited about supporting John Kerry.
Does Sweet's comment speak to Dean's engaging style, or does it reflect her enthusiasm for Kerry?
One person, who declined to speak on the record, said he didn't think Kerry was such a great candidate.
But that didn't stop him from picking up a bumper sticker on his way out.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
