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Obama rides momentum into Granite State

BY MARTIN C. EVANS | martin.evans@newsday.com

10:11 PM EST, January 4, 2008

CONCORD, N.H. - On the heels of his surprising victory in Thursday's Iowa caucuses, a tired but beaming Barack Obama arrived in snowy New Hampshire before dawn Friday, grabbing two hours' sleep before greeting cheering residents during a daylong campaign swing.

Now, he faces what could be a decisive challenge in the Democratic race toward the White House: duplicating in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary the enthusiasm that swept him to victory over Hillary Rodham Clinton in Iowa.

"In four days' time you will have the chance and I will be right there with you, and we will not just win this primary, we will win the primaries after that and the primaries after that and I will win the Democratic nomination to the presidency of these United States," Obama said, promising 2,000 cheering attendees at a high school rally here that he would unite Democrats with independents and Republicans.

"Let's get to work."

Engaging in some of the retail politicking that helped produce an astoundingly large turnout in the Iowa caucuses, Obama greeted patrons in a number of venues, including an aircraft hangar in Portsmouth, two small retail shops and a Democratic party fundraiser in Nashua.

At a coffeehouse, he told Terri Trepanier about his proposed $4,000 college tuition tax credit, and he listened intently as Janine Parsons, a self-employed mother with a husband and a 12-year-old daughter, recounted paying more than $1,000 per month for health insurance.

"That's a big chunk of change," he told Parsons, before adding later, "Help is on the way."

Obama aides expressed optimism over his chances of winning New Hampshire, saying his campaign has more than matched Clinton's organizing efforts here and his repudiation of partisan infighting has broad appeal among the state's large number of independent voters.

Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod said Obama's win among independents, liberals and upper-income residents, and among young Iowans who turned out in historically large numbers, indicates a hunger for change that makes him appealing in New Hampshire.

He said Obama's ability to find support among women in Iowa -- long considered a Clinton strength -- is another indication he can compete with her on her own turf.

Axelrod disputed recent polling, which shows Clinton clinging to a slight lead in New Hampshire, saying his own polling shows Obama as even with her.

But he predicted a tough battle, saying Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, are "not going to surrender without a fight."

Still, Obama's victory in Iowa appears to have generated vast enthusiasm among New Hampshire voters.

"He is the buzz," said Dave Bamford, 61, who said he believes electing Obama, who is African American, will help heal America's racial wounds. "As much as I like Hillary, and I like Hillary a lot, I really believe he is the next president of the United States."