McCain Stakes His Campaign on New Hampshire

From there, they envision their candidate rolling to victory in Florida and all but claiming the delegates needed for the nomination Feb. 5, when more than 20 states will vote.

"Once we win in New Hampshire, we've got to win in a few other states," political director Michael Dennehy said dryly.

His rivals -- and some veteran political pundits -- brush aside those arguments, saying McCain's campaign lost its way last spring after voter anger about illegal immigration and his support for an unpopular war devastated his fundraising and sparked a staff exodus. They argue that McCain is no longer able to replicate the magic of 2000, even in New Hampshire.

The latest polls put him in the mid-teens here, roughly tied for second with Giuliani, while Romney has led with a share of support topping 30 percent. McCain's standing has improved slightly from the summer, when he flirted with single digits in some polls.

Some voters here in New Hampshire echo that sentiment.

Steve Knox serves as the town moderator in Albany, a volunteer position that gives him the responsibility to oversee the polls on Election Day. He said he was an enthusiastic McCain supporter in 2000 and will probably vote for him again. But after watching McCain in Dixville Notch on Friday, Knox said he will do so with less excitement this time around.

"Eight years ago, he was just sweeping up everything in front of him," Knox recalled. "I just don't sense that now. There's a missing element there. You can just sense that he doesn't have that same fire."

But at 71, McCain appears to be putting all of his energy into a vigorous campaign in New Hampshire. Standing on a street corner at the borders with Vermont and Canada early Saturday, McCain watched snow fall steadily as he talked about the need to bring cheaper drugs back into the country. The next 12 hours on the Straight Talk Express brought several stops at restaurants across the state, hours talking with reporters, and two town-hall meetings.

At Howard's Restaurant in Colebrook, McCain worked the booths jammed with breakfast patrons, many of whom said they remain undecided about who they will support. Crystal Ball, the diner's owner, predicted the Arizona senator will win the nomination.

"I think he does. Yeah, I do. He's loosened up," she said. "His service to the government. He's a veteran. That's going to pull a lot of votes for him."

Still, the war in Iraq and immigration remain two of McCain's biggest obstacles, for very different reasons. While some Republicans may reward the senator for his strong argument that the war in Iraq is necessary, voters appear aware that stance could hurt his prospects in the general election. And McCain's cooperation with President Bush on immigration issues remains anathema to many Republicans.

The campaign recently devoted precious money to begin airing television commercials in the all-important -- and costly -- Boston media market, which blankets southern New Hampshire. But the senator recognizes that he cannot count on voters delivering for him again and plans a relentless handshake-by-handshake retail pitch.

"He realizes that he has to do it all over again," said Steve Duprey, a former state GOP chairman and the co-chair of McCain's campaign in New Hampshire.

With more than half of the state's residents remaining undecided, according to a recent University of New Hampshire poll, aides think voters will take a second look at McCain, particularly given residents' historic support for the senator and his brand of fiscal discipline.

McCain said he expects attacks from his rivals to increase dramatically during the next few weeks, especially if they sense that he is making progress here. His aides said the senator is ready.

"John McCain is the only candidate running who knows what it's like to be under hostile fire," Duprey said. "The challenge we will face at some point is resources."