The Political View From New Hampshire.

New Hampshire is alive with politics! 

The first in the nation primary state sure draws a crowd at this time of year. 

Yes, it is primary time in the Granite State.

All eyes are on New Hampshire. 

A lot of those eyes are here in person. 

I went to Manchester today (New Hampshire's biggest city), and Concord (the capitol city), while visiting the many towns on the way to both places. 

The supporters were, and are out there. 

In fact, they are out in large numbers. 

And they are everywhere. 

In Manchester, it is signs on every street, and some streets have hundreds of them. 

The supporters are on every corner of every block. 

Some places of business even have their favorite candidates on large signs that are really small billboards right under their business names. 

Dine here at so and so, and vote for Rudy. 

I thought Rudy owned the place. 

It is crazy. 

The Hillary supporters out number the others. 

So do her signs. 

At least that was the case in the places I was at today, and that was a lot of places. 

Ron Paul's people have been the most vocal by far for the past few months, and I got the sense that they are getting ready big time. 

Dr. Paul has a lot of support here, so don't count out a surprise showing by him.

Obama's people seemed to be gathering themselves a little more later in the day, but his signs are out there as well. 

McCain has the most large signs, and he needs to win here. 

Many newspapers have backed McCain, and that gave him a big lift in New Hampshire. 

If you check the papers, you can see where the candidates will be that day. 

It is possible to meet four or five of them in one day. 

I met Ronald Reagan back in 1980. 

I talked to him, and he posed for a picture. 

He signed something for me too. 

I still have those treasures. 

I met a lot of candidates over the years. 

I have seen Bill and Hillary Clinton, and George Bush, Sr. 

I met most of the candidates at last year's debates in June. 

Some candidates I have met over the years are dead now. 

But the memories live on. 

I grew up in New York State, but never did I get so close to so many important people until I moved here. 

Some of my old friends back home still get amazed when they look at my photo albums. 

A thrill I got last June was hanging out with Mitt Romney's son Tagg. 

That never would have happened anywhere else. 

It does not have to be an election year to see candidates in New Hampshire. 

They come here all the time. 

The year before an election is when things really heat up. 

This time it started a year and a half before the '08 election. 

But never does it get this crazy until the days before the primary. 

Some call it a mad house. 

I call it a political explosion. 

But it is fun!  

George Vreeland Hill