Obama also toured New Hampshire yesterday, continuing to draw enthusiastic crowds as his campaign continued to benefit from last week's win in the Iowa caucuses.
The messages of the two top Democrats have devolved into one word apiece. For Obama, it is change. For Clinton, it has been ready.
To demonstrate her readiness to be president, Clinton has spent her time since the Iowa caucuses at forums and rallies answering questions from voters. Many appreciate the attention, but the strategy has been time-consuming and, at times, academic.
"She did kind of ramble. I wish there was a little more back-and-forth," said Peter Roberts, a self-employed investment manager from Stratham who attended the breakfast session.
Roberts said he remained undecided after Clinton spent more than an hour addressing a table of about a dozen voters who had yet to make up their minds.
At a rally in Dover, Clinton spent another hour fielding questions from a crowd of 600 on topics that included the political situation in Bolivia, hardly a front-burner concern in the presidential race.
Clinton quickly recovered from the emotional episode earlier in the day, but it underscored how emotions can be tricky on the campaign trail.
Edmund S. Muskie's 1972 presidential bid ended when journalists reported that he cried while defending criticism of his wife during a New Hampshire speech. Muskie said that what journalists called tears were melted snowflakes, but his candidacy was done.
Four years ago, Howard Dean's guttural scream after the Iowa caucuses was interpreted by many as instability. He was defeated for the nomination.
But Michael S. Dukakis was criticized for not showing enough emotion when he was asked during a 1988 debate whether he would favor the death penalty if his wife were raped.
Democratic contender John Edwards at first criticized Clinton's show of emotion yesterday, telling reporters that "what we need in a commander in chief is strength and resolve," and that being president is "tough business."
He later softened his remarks, saying that campaigns are "very grueling."
Obama said he didn't see what happened. "I know this process is a grind," he said, "so that's not something I care to comment on."
Clinton continued yesterday to spotlight Obama's record, arguing that it undermines his claim to be an agent of change.
