James Farrell's blog

38 people ran for President in New Hampshire. Some ran lots of ads, got national media attention, appeared in debates, drew big crowds, and received thousands of votes. Others shared a store front, campaigned alone, were ignored by the journalists, were sometimes ridiculed, and earned only a few votes.

The ads that ran varied in quality. Some struck an elevated tone, with dignified music, impressive graphics, and imposing images of the candidates. Others were simpler, featuring ordinary people, a memorable phrase, and a concise message. To me, all were welcome.

Have you ever seen that Japanese television program run in translation on the "Spike" network? That's my working metaphor for the New Hampshire primary tomorrow: "Most Extreme Elimination Challenge." Indeed, the challenge for several of the candidates will be to avoid "elimination."

All the town meetings, all the ads, all the interviews are over. What matters tomorrow is organization, turnout, undecided voters, and the final count. So far since suppertime tonight, Howard Dean, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, and John Edwards have checked in with recorded phone calls. Tomorrow there'll be follow-ups to see that we've gone to the polls, to ask if we need a ride, to inquire if we'd like to stand at the polling place with a sign. All this in an effort to obey Kenny Blankenship's exhortation: "don't get eliminated!"

Reporters from around the world are freezing their rears following the candiates from school gym to VFW post to town hall meetings. In sub-zero temperatures, aggravated by a brisk wind, supporters of candidates are standing at intersections with their campaign signs. Its hard not admire their dedication, even if their candidate is not your man. Weather forecasts are calling for snow and cold on primary day--six inches or more, maybe starting during the day.

It must be difficult for candidates to answer complex questions in under a minute (and most took liberties with the time limit in spite of the annoying bell). But, since candidates are expected to keep their answers short, I think I should try to offer my assessment of their performance in quick bursts as well. So, working left to right as they appeared on the stage:

Howard Dean: Dean had the most to lose, and frankly the most to gain by the debate. Going in there was a lot of attention on his post-Iowa wolf howl, and he needed to show that he had not broken loose from his moorings. In short, Dean needed decorum. And, he did a good job. He handled the questions and discussion of his Iowa roar reasonably well, and with humor, and in general seemed under crontrol, and on message. Dean was especially skillful in handling the question from Brit Hume about his passionate leadership, "leading with his heart."

I'm posting this note at 10:50 PM on the evening of the Iowa caucuses, and after just watching Howard Dean do his best imitation of the Incredible Hulk. Speaking to supporters after finishing a disappointing third, Dean's "speech" (more like a rant) was both shocking and embarrassing. I thought Tom Harkin any minute would step up and muzzle the candidate he'd endorsed. Someone stop this guy before he shouts again!

Let me stretch the definition of campaign advertising for a few minutes and consider that the personal appearances of a candidate consitute a potentially very powerful form of political advertising.

In New Hampshire (as well as Iowa, although perhaps in few other places) voters become accustomed to, indeed expect, to meet candidates face to face. I think it is a way for voters to test the character of the candidate against the impression made on the news, in debates, from the ads. In person, voters can measure how much of the ad image is genuine, how much manufactured.

There have been a couple of interesting developments these last few days in the Ad wars. Let me quickly summarize.

The John Kerry ad featuring former Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen, which had been running regularly on the radio, is now offered as a television ad too. Shaheen is campaigning in person with Kerry, who drew a large and enthusiastic (and surprisingly young) crowd to the Dover Elks hall on Thursday night despite a windchill of about -15.

There has been a flurry of advertising activity in New Hampshire. Edwards, Lieberman, Clark, Kerry, Dean and even Dennis Kucinich are running television ads. Kerry is also running a radio spot, the first by any candidate in this primary season.

Joe Lieberman is still taking strategic risks. Last week he was against discrimination. Now he is "the only one" opposing terrorism and tyranny. Thank God!

Wes Clark is a patriot. I doubt even his Democratic opponents would dispute that claim. Yet not since the laughable 1992 Bob Kerrey (of Nebraska, not John of Massachusetts) ice-rink ad, has there been such an obvious effort by a presidential candidate to pander to voters with sports metaphors and local iconography.

If you missed it (and I have reason to think many folks outside New England did), during the New England Patriots' Saturday night match against the "J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets" we were treated to presidential candidate Wesley Clark discussing the need for a strong "defense" (with the accent on the "de") and appealing to our eternal longing for "a heck of a quarterback." True, there was Wes Clark dressed in a New England Patriots sweatshirt, telling us that "deep down, we're all Patriots" (which should come as a shock to Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins fans, among others).

How long before Al Gore does his first Howard Dean commercial? The Gore endorsement announced today is framed by the media here as a blow to Joe Lieberman, the former Gore running mate. But John Kerry's campaign must feel things slipping away as well. Former Governor Jeanne Shaheen, and her husband Bill, were major Gore backers in 2000. Several key Shaheen staffers are onboard the Kerry bandwagon, and recently Shaheen herself endorsed the Massachusetts Senator. But now Al Gore is backing Dean, and it is no longer a sure thing that Shaheen can deliver even her own core supporters in the NH Democratic establishment to the Massachusetts senator (if she ever could).