Clinton Campaigns In New Hampshire

She invited two teenagers in the crowd to come to the stage to hand her a sticker supporting New Hampshire's bid to continue holding the first primary in the nation. She shook hands with both, drawing a roar from the crowd.

She headed off questions about whether a woman could be elected president in 2008 before they were even asked. "We'll never know until we try," Clinton said.

On issues, she was vague, choosing to focus on her accomplishments during her six years in the Senate rather than on specific proposals. Asked what she would do to reform the health-care system, Clinton was careful not to lay out a plan and instead turned the question back to the audience. On energy independence, Clinton advocated several modest measures but offered no broad proposal.

But it was Iraq and Clinton's position on the issue that served as the focal point of the day. Even those who were obvious supporters pressed for assurances that she believes the war was a mistake. One woman, who prefaced her remarks by telling Clinton, "You go, girl," asked her to better explain her 2002 vote.

Clinton said her vote did not give President Bush the authority to conduct a "preemptive war," and she cited comments she made to that effect at the time.

"He should not have been trusted with the authority we gave him," she said. Clinton also noted that she has advocated capping the number of troops in Iraq at the January 2007 level and supports proposals to cut off funding for Iraqi security forces if progress is not made in limiting the violence there.

Clinton refused to accept the view that the Senate's effort to pass a nonbinding resolution condemning the president's plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq is a meaningless exercise.

"We are working to change the president's policy," she said. "Getting change in our system is difficult. I'm still in the arena. I'm still fighting."

Not everyone was convinced.

"She's very politically calculating and careful," said Chuck Henderson of North Conway. "I want someone who has courage and is fearless."