MANCHESTER, N.H. — Sen. Barack Obama needs to translate the loud and visible “Obamania” in this state into votes.
The Illinois Democrat is in second place in the key state, but his supporters were out in abundance Saturday when Democrats gathered here for their annual dinner, and he is expected to generate big crowds today at a rally after he files paperwork to appear on the primary ballot.
His wife, Michelle, greeted voters over the weekend, and he’ll spend a few days here this week, but the lesser-known candidates say their shoe leather will pay off where a rally cannot.
While Saturday’s chants of “Be a part of something great, O-ba-ma, 0-8!” drowned out Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s supporters, they say cheers aren’t enough to deliver an Obama victory.
Voters backing each candidate say it’s anyone’s contest. State officials are waiting to set the primary date to protect New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation status, and because a December primary is possible, the hopefuls have stepped up their campaigning here.
“I’m outworking everybody,” New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told 120 voters in North Hampton Saturday.
Sen. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, who filed his candidate paperwork Friday, touted his experience but also talked Red Sox and pulled out wallet photos of his young daughters Saturday as he greeted voters around town.
“People really want to have leadership in this country and are tired of getting nothing done,” he said.
That kind of retail politics — Mr. Dodd spent six minutes talking health care with one diner voter — is difficult for Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama, who both have security details and attract more attention, cameras and reporters.
Mr. Richardson pointed that out in a nod to his staff: “I don’t have big entourages, Secret Service; I’ve got a bunch of New Hampshire kids.”
Steven Borne, a Richardson supporter from the Seacoast, said he has received calls from pollsters who only ask about Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.
“I can’t even tell people who I support,” he said. “Politics has turned into a popularity contest. You go try to see Hillary or Obama here, it’s a media show.”
The “Obamaniacs” were out in full force Saturday, starting with a group waving signs as families went to the circus in the morning and out until dark as Democrats arrived at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.
Freshman Rep. Paul Hodes, New Hampshire Democrat, who backs Mr. Obama, stressed to reporters that 80 percent of primary voters still are undecided. He acknowledged a December primary could be a problem for Mr. Obama, whose college-age supporters might skip Election Day owing to finals or to be home for the holidays, but said he thinks the senator is in a good position to overtake Mrs. Clinton.
He also noted Mr. Obama’s strength with independent voters, who can vote in either party’s primary.
Republican voter Susan Pugh, a beauty-products saleswoman from Derry, said she could support Mr. Obama if he became the Democratic nominee because he is a Washington outsider with “fresh” ideas.
“If I had to go that way, vote Democratic, I’d go with Obama because he hasn’t been there all that long,” she said.
The Union Leader newspaper gave the Dodd and Richardson visits front-page treatment in a story headlined “Hard work, little return,” noting they trail in the polls.
“It’s too early. There shouldn’t be front-runners yet,” said Beth Taber of North Hampton, adding that she is keeping an open mind to all the candidates.
Joyce Corcoran, an independent from Hampton, said Mr. Richardson “has got me very sparked” and “It was nice to hear someone else. It really opened me up to some new opinions.”
Patty O’Connor, who hosted Mr. Richardson and undecided voters in her living room Saturday, said she has no interest in the polls. “That doesn’t matter to me at all. Anything can happen,” she said.
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