If the New Hampshire primary is known for one thing, it's one-on-one contact between the candidates and the voters. This might sound like a completely open approach and in theory, it is. But in reality, when the presidential contenders come through, they spend most of their time with one kind of voter. Someone who has a particular interest in the primary.
As part of Primary Place, our ongoing series on the voters of Exeter, New Hampshire Public Radio's Jon Greenberg went to a community picnic where no candidates were present. There, he found a more complicated blend of attitudes.
The Father's Family Church puts on a number of picnics throughout the summer. They set up a large red and white striped tent and have tables and chairs to seat a hundred. There are burgers and hotdogs, salad and cookies. Pastor Tom Burt says he honestly doesn't expect much out of this.
"THERE'S NO PRESSURE HERE TO JOIN THE CHURCH. IT'S STRICTLY A FREE COOKOUT, MAKE A DONATION."
A group of four friends from a nearby mobile home park, Sherwood Forest, have taken Pastor Tom up on his offer. They don't belong to the church. In fact, religion doesn't play much of a role in their lives. When it comes to the primary, of the four, only one has any interest, 72-year-old Beverly Miller. She likes Barack Obama.
I THINK HE'S YOUNG AND FULL OF NEW IDEAS
Beverly is there with Louise , Patricia and George. The likelihood that any of these three will vote is tiny. In George's case, the probability sounds like it's zero.
I DON'T LIKE ANY OF THEM//NOT REPUBLICANS, NOT DEMOCRATS/ I DON'T LIKE EITHER OF THEM
George hates the role of money in politics.
WHY WOULD YOU SPEND 100 MILLION FOR A 400,000 JOB. //WELL, IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S MONEY// YES, BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY THE PIPER. I DON'T CARE WHETHER IT'S ROMNEY OR OBAMA. YOU HAVE TO PAY IT BACK. THAT'S WHEN IT COSTS YOU, ME AND EVERYBODY HERE.
When the candidates hold their house parties and town hall meetings, they don't come across people like George. And quite frankly, if the goal is to win votes, there are easier ones to go after. But even among more likely voters, candidates might need to be prepared for a bit of a pushback.
Waiting in line for his food was Brian Smiledge, a limousine driver. Like Beverly, he's also interested in Obama. But that's just a first blush impression and before he digs deeper, Brian has to get over a bit of primary fatigue.
I GOT KIND OF TURNED OFF AT THE BEGINNING BECAUSE IT STARTED SO EARLY. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, FRIENDS WITHIN MY CIRCLE AND FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY'VE ALREADY HAD ENOUGH OF IT ALREADY.
Brian wants to hear more from the candidates on health care and reforming social security. He says he'll hunker down and focus on what they have to say - probably after Christmas.
There was a person at the picnic who was very engaged in the primary, the host, Pastor Tom Burt. Pastor Tom takes voting seriously.
I PREACH TO MY PEOPLE THAT YOU NEED TO VOTE. IT'S A GOD GIVEN RIGHT, GOD ESTABLISHED THIS NATION. I WON'T TELL YOU WHO TO VOTE FOR BECAUSE I'M A PASTOR. BUT IF YOU KNOW ME, GENERALLY YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHO I'LL VOTE FOR.
Pastor Tom hasn't made up his mind yet. A candidate's firm opposition to abortion is essential and he knows who stands where. Beyond that, he would only say that his mother saw Republican Mike Huckabee and she brought back a very favorable report.
SPIRIT OF THE LORD HAS A WAY OF PUTTING INFORMATION IN YOUR HAND WHEN YOU NEED IT. // DO YOU THINK .. YOUR MOTHER?// ABSOLUTELY.
The presidential campaigns tend to rely on more earthly and predictable methods of reaching the electorate. The candidates pride themselves on holding authentic conversations with real people at their house parties and town halls . But one has to imagine that there would be different kinds of conversations if the setting for those encounters was a little different too.
For NHPR News, I'm Jon Greenberg.
