The presidential contenders made their closing arguments to New Hampshire voters yesterday, the last full day of campaigning before today's primaries.
DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton
Messages: The agent of change with experience and a track record.
In Salem: "I'm running for president because I believe that there is not a contradiction between experience and change. I don't know since when experience became some kind of liability when running for the highest office in our land. But that's up to the voters to decide. With me you get a long record of positive change that's affected the lives of people right here in New Hampshire."
MARCELLA BOMBARDIERI
John Edwards
Messages: The independent fighter for change.
In Lakeport: "The candidate - Democrat or Republican - who's taken the most money from drug companies is not a Republican, it's a Democrat, and she's in this race tomorrow morning. There's nothing illegal about it . . . but it is the status quo."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Barack Obama
Messages: On a wave of voter momentum; a fresh, unifying approach to nation's problems.
In New London: "They say Obama has not been in Washington long enough. He needs to be seasoned and stewed to boil all that hope out of him."
SASHA ISSENBERG
REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani
Messages: Tested by crisis, most electable in general election.
In Hudson: "As a Republican it has to come down to who do you think will win the general election, because if we nominate the wrong one and don't win the general, then we have a President Obama or President Clinton or President Edwards. I think I have the best chance of winning the general election and I also believe I have the most experience in terms of having been tested in very different executive jobs."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mike Huckabee
Messages: The right mix of economic populism and social conservatism.
In Mason: "There's a great need in this country to elect someone who reminds them of the guy they work with, not the guy who laid them off. . . . I have also heard folks say people in New Hampshire don't care about issues like family and the sanctity of life. I'd beg to differ."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
John McCain
Messages: On the comeback; an environmentally friendly Republican.
In Concord: "I will clean up the planet. I will make global warming a priority."
MICHAEL KRANISH
Mitt Romney
Messages: The right messenger of change in Washington with business experience.
In Stratham: "There's no way our party would be successful in the fall if we put forward a long-serving senator to stand up against Barack Obama's message of change. It's going to take a person who is an innovator, like myself, who has the experience to bring change to Washington, to be able to go head to head with Barack Obama and win."
MICHAEL LEVENSON
