New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Scott, Jennifer and Sean, students from Maryland, hunch over a paper-strewn table in an office overlooking busy Elm Street. They scribble while music plays on a portable stereo.They're writing not term papers but thank-you notes -- to strangers whom hours earlier they asked to vote for Bob Kerrey for president.This is an everyday scene in New Hampshire as the Feb. 18 presidential primary approaches. Thousands of volunteers, mostly students, drive Campaign '92."They're the lifeblood of any campaign," says Mary Ellen Glynn, press secretary to another Democratic candidate, Bill Clinton.

HOLLIS, N.H. -- In a closing appeal for New Hampshire support, President Bush urged Republicans yesterday to reject TV commentator Patrick J. Buchanan's protest candidacy and cast a "serious" vote in tomorrow's primary.Mr. Bush's personal campaign ended in New Hampshire the same way it began: with jabs and counterpunches at Mr. Buchanan but nary a mention of his name.At a breakfast in Nashua, N.H., Mr. Bush tried to appeal to this state's enormous pride in its political influence, telling supporters: "You make serious choices here, and you don't elect the loudest and the biggest protesters."

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- House Speaker Newt Gingrich achieved even more than he had hoped for with his magical mystery tour of New Hampshire.He not only came face to face with a moose, he came face to face with the president, seeming to establish himself as Mr. Clinton's political equal by sharing the stage with him at Sunday's genteel town hall meeting.The speaker's four-day trip to New Hampshire, punctuated by the joint appearance with President Clinton, solidified Mr. Gingrich's standing as the dominant GOP force in the nation.

A cartoonist conjuring with the presidential primaries this year might be inclined to draw dozens of nervously smiling politicians perched on a limb labeled Bill Clinton.The voters of New Hampshire would be climbing up a ladder with saws at the ready.A typical media cheap shot? Playing fast and humorous with serious political business? A misreading of the candidate's circumstances?All of the above, according to Mr. Clinton's backers in Maryland.Maybe. But Tuesday's first-in-the-nation primary has added significance and drama this year, not only for Mr. Clinton, but for the Democrats who anointed him as the most electable of their party's candidates in 1992.

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- With the New Hampshire primary one day away, the first question about Paul E. Tsongas is whether he can maintain his lead over Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. But, assuming he wins here, the critical question is: What does he do for an encore?The answer seems to be a strategy under which the former Massachusetts senator will pick his spots -- Maryland being the single most important -- in an attempt to establish nationally the political credibility it took him months to achieve here.

Derry, N.HEUGENE Robichaux says he is "sort of a semi-activist Democrat." He likes to follow the candidates and vote in the presidential primary every four years. He has been known to contribute $20 to a favorite candidate. But he is not feeling any lack in his life because the campaign hasn't started a year ahead of time as it usually does."Most people don't pay attention anyway," he says. "They're thinking about making a living and Jack W.Germond &JulesWitcoversending the kids to college and taking care of grandma.

Concord, N.H. - THE MOST intriguing mystery of the presidential primary campaign here at the moment is the case of Tom Harkin of Iowa.The Iowa senator entered the Democratic primary competition with a splash last summer, enlisted some well-established party and union leaders and quickly began organizing. But two new opinion polls out this week show him with the support of less than 5 percent of New Hampshire Democrats, trailing far behind Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas, former Sen. Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts and Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska.

TILTON, N.H. -- Rennie Stinson says she has stopped listening to Rush Limbaugh. She still agrees with the conservative radio talk-show host but she is bored with the subject matter.''I'm sick of all this business about liberals and conservatives and who's right and who's wrong in Washington,'' says the 37-year-old Republican. ''It doesn't have anything to do with real life, so I just listen to music and ignore the whole thing.''It is hard to find anyone in New Hampshire, other than a handful of activists, with any interest in politics.

Manchester,N H. --- FOR DEMOCRATS seeking a presidential nominee, debates like the one here the other night are a kind of trap.Although there were a few cheap shots and grandstand plays, the five candidates spent most of the two hours demonstrating a sophisticated grasp of complex domestic problems. It is fair to say that all five showed an ability to articulate their concerns and solutions that the notoriously inarticulate President Bush would be hard-pressed to match.But the problem for the Democrats is that the issues on which they focused most intently -- the economy, trade, tax policy, education -- are unlikely to be the pivotal ones in the general election campaign next fall.

New Hampshire 65, UMBC 47 - Tyrece Gibbs, a senior guard, scored 22 points last night to match his career high and lead New Hampshire past UMBC in Durham, N.H., in an America East game. UMBC senior guard Jay Greene had 11 points and seven assists, with his final assist giving him 600 for his career. He is the school's all-time leader in assists. Darryl Proctor led the Retrievers (7-8, 1-2) with 16 points and nine rebounds and extended his school-record streak to 23 straight games of scoring in double figures.