McCain reflects on N.H., Iowa differences

By Sasha Issenberg, Globe Staff

NASHUA, N.H. -- On what could be his last campaign bus ride through New Hampshire, John McCain reflected this morning on the differences between the state and Iowa, where he ended up in a near-tie for third in last week's caucuses

"I thought people in Iowa were very polite, but not as outgoing," said McCain, returning from a visit to the offices of the Union Leader newspaper (which endorsed him) to the hotel here where he will watch primary results this evening.

The Arizona Republican refused to say which state’s personality more closely matched his own, but suggested that there was something more outgoing and less polite in the Granite State about his "enjoyment of, shall we say, exchanges with voters."

"Maybe the Iowans who were against the war didn't want to come to the town hall meeting solely to have an exchange with me," said McCain, who is counting on a win tonight to cement the revival of his campaign. "It was certainly true in New Hampshire."