[calenel]

I would estimate that there were 6,000+ in the crowd. There was a guy from Ohio there with his wife (presumably also from Ohio). It was in a hangar on the former AFB (Pease). The line going in was orderly and moved along once they opened the door. Campaign staffers were working the lines to get phone and literature volunteers.

The crowd was pretty good. They were patient when we had to wait. There was a high school band from the high school in my town (Rochester) and cheerleaders for a Portsmouth high school. The cheerleaders were quite cute when they had to stretch their routine out because the President was about 10 minutes behind schedule. When the cheerleaders ran out of material and kind of sweetly/shyly scurried away (incidentally casting my cynical beliefs about the state of American youth into doubt). They ran Republican commercials on the big screen they had hung up. They ran a spot that was candid camera moments showing very human/real side of GWB - they ought to get that out to the general public.

There were a number of speakers before GWB arrived - local party officials, some politicians. John Sununu introduced the President. John got cheered quite loudly, second only to GWB of all the pols there - his is the closest race, so the focus was on him, of course.

The President spoke for a while, I think close to 45 minutes. He talked about all the issues - the economy, judges, taxes, senate obstructionism, homeland security, saddam...

People were psyched up. He asked us to go out and bring people to the polls. He appealed to Republicans, Democrats and those 'not interested in politics' to get out and vote and give him what he needs to defend America.

All in all, a good speech (more or less the same one he's giving around the country, but tailored to NH), and a good rally. Lots of energy in the people that were there.

[Brad’s Gramma]

WOW!!!! What a great report!!!

(I'm jealous, you know)

[McLynnan]

Thank you for the report. I saw a clip of this appearance on Fox News tonight, but your first hand observations are much more descriptive.

[chnsmok]

Every doser should have a handout of ALL the dosers email addys, pics, well wishes, prayers, etc. to hand to the President when they see him. Then we wouldn't feel so left out.

[kayak]

Thanks so much for that great report!!! You're a very good writer ...... gave us a good sense of the intensity of the event!

[rintense]

He appealed to Republicans, Democrats and those 'not interested in politics' to get out and vote and give him what he needs to defend America.

Surely you must have heard that incorrectly. Everyone knows that Republicans don't minorities, liberals, etc. to vote. ;)

Great report! Thanks for sharing.