In less than 48 hours, the polls will be open for presidential primary voting throughout the Granite State.
Note that is presidential primary, not just for Republicans.
Although President Barack Obama is expected to draw nearly every Democratic ballot cast, there are 13 other candidates on that ballot.
The rest of the list isn't exactly full of household names. But Craig "Tax Freeze" Fries (yes, that's the way it is on the ballot) Vermin Supreme and 11 others hope to garner some votes at the polls Tuesday.
On the Republican side, where the nation's attention is focused, there are 30 names to choose from. Beyond the 10 or 11 most voters are familiar with, there's also Bear Betzler, Vern Wuensche, Jeff Lawman of Derry and so many more.
Matchbook poll says Romney
Federal Cigar, which has stores in Plaistow and three other communities, announced results Friday of its primary matchbook poll.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came out on top with 191 votes, or 43 percent. Runner-up was Texas Congressman Ron Paul, with 88 votes, or 20 percent. In third place was former House speaker Newt Gingrich with 43 votes or 9.5 percent.
Romney carried the Plaistow "precinct," with 41 votes to 15 for Gingrich and eight for Paul.
Owner Rick Gadway said Federal has conducted customer primary polls since at least the early 1980s and maybe as long as the 1960s. Accuracy?
"It runs about 80 percent," Gadway said.
'Crash the Party' tour
Americans Elect, the group pushing to put a bipartisan presidential ticket on the ballot in all 50 states, was holding a "Crash the Party" tour this weekend to generate publicity for its Internet nominating process.
"We're giving every American voter the opportunity to choose a serious third ticket that transcends party lines," Americans Elect chief Elliot Ackerman said.
It's not too late to get in on the third-party party. There's an Americans Elect trivia night from 6 to 8 tonight at J.W. Hills, 795 Elm St., in Manchester.
We're thinking of going and bringing Landslide, that 1970s era Parker Brothers' game based on the presidential election and the electoral college. That is if we can find it down in the basement.
Speaking of Landslide, there was nothing like scoring New York and California in the "Secret Ballot" bidding war.
Romney's reinforcements
Romney's rally Thursday in Salem drew U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., Congressman Charlie Bass, R-N.H., former Granite State Gov. John Sununu and state legislators Chuck Morse and Charlie McMahon.
There were no bigger political stars at the rally than Sen. John McCain of Arizona, winner of the New Hampshire GOP primary in 2000 and 2004, and his wife, Almost First Lady Cindy McCain.
McCain couldn't help reflecting on the poor experiences of the Sons of Arizona in losing presidential bids. Among the defeated are Barry Goldwater, Mo Udall, Bruce Babbitt and, of course, McCain.
"Arizona is the only state where mothers don't tell their children they can grow up to be president," McCain quipped.
Granite State, Bob Dole and the primary experience
McCain, in an interview, was sharing one of former Sen. Bob Dole's presidential campaign experiences in New Hampshire.
"I like you, Dole, but you're not coming to our neighborhood," a Manchester woman complained to Dole out on the street, McCain said. "The people in our neighborhood are really upset you're not coming to our neighborhood and you're in this neighborhood."
Dole dutifully got her address.
"She lived two blocks away," McCain said.
Romney on Obama's 'green jobs' promise
Romney noted at the Salem rally that President Obama had promised he would create "green jobs."
It seems, though, Obama has taken care of his financial backers instead, Romney said.
"He wants to give jobs to the people who gave him the green," Romney said.
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