For Delegates From N.H., Iowa, It Comes Full Circle

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Balloons and Confetti Close RNC

Following John McCain's address to the Republican National Convention, delegates celebrated as balloons and confetti filled the convention center hall.

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Said Ed Failor, a delegate from Muscatine, Iowa: "After Sarah Palin spoke, I can tell you there isn't a delegate here who isn't happy McCain is the nominee. He made his speech tonight a success just by letting her speak last night."

Some delegates from New Hampshire -- many of whom have backed McCain since he ran for president in 2000 -- said they felt slightly less confident about the direction of the campaign headed into this convention. McCain held 102 town hall meetings in the state, according to delegate Scott Hilliard, and New Hampshire voters favored McCain over Romney, even though Romney is a former governor of neighboring Massachusetts with a vacation home in the state.

New Hampshire liked McCain just fine the way he always was, delegates said.

"He told people, 'Stick with me,' " Hilliard said, sitting just a few feet from the stage. "We worked the hardest for him. Now here we are together."

New Hampshire is among the swing states McCain feels he can win in November, but delegates said they wondered early this week how their moderate state would respond to Palin.

"I was skeptical," said Jack Barnes Jr., a state senator from Raymond (population 10,000), who describes himself as "a right-wing wacko."

"After last night, I am no longer skeptical," Barnes said. "She came out and was cool as a cucumber. She did one heck of a job."

Bobbie Coffin of Hancock agreed. "I am a moderate Republican," she said. "And I can tell you, I love Sarah Palin."

And after his speech Thursday night, they still loved McCain.