In New Hampshire, McCain's 2000 primary victory still resonates with voters

By DAVID LIGHTMAN - McClatchy Newspapers MANCHESTER, N.H. -- The economy stinks. The Iraq war is a mess. And President Bush is doing a lousy job. So think solid majorities of people in New Hampshire. Yet John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, still has a decent chance of winning this swing state in November, because of independent voters such as Sally Teague. "We need a change, no doubt," said the Sullivan County upholsterer, who voted for Democrat Barack Obama in the January primary. But as she compares the two men, Teague finds, "I've always liked McCain. He's well-known around the globe. He's got experience." Everything should be breaking Obama's way in this state, where Democrats scored big victories for governor and Congress in 2006, and Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry won in 2004. Yet... [read full story]