Diary: Edwards builds support

By Gordon Corera
BBC correspondent in New Hampshire

The degree of commitment that New Hampshire voters show to the political process is in full evidence at Fairfields Junior High School in Nashua.

The school's gymnasium is packed out with a thousand people in the hall and another few hundred in an overflow, all gathered to hear Senator John Edwards.

According to seasoned observers, this year's parade of candidates is breaking records in terms of the crowds they are attracting.

For all the complaints about alienation from politics, plenty of people are braving sub-zero temperatures to attend events like this and listen to candidates.

Amazingly, something like 10% of New Hampshire voters have personally met a candidate, according to polls

Not all are committed supporters, some are here just to have a look and make up their minds.

Amazingly, something like 10% of New Hampshire voters have personally met a candidate, according to polls.

In Nashua on Sunday, you would have trouble not bumping into someone running for president.

Only minutes apart, John Kerry, Wesley Clark and John Edwards were all speaking in this town, each to packed audiences.

Rising star

Mr Edwards has impressed most people who have come across him on the campaign trail.

The youthful-looking senator from North Carolina has an accomplished speaking style perfected through his years as a lawyer, arguing cases against corporations.

WHAT IS A PRIMARY? State-level poll to nominate a party's candidate in the general election Held for presidential and congressional races In some states voters are restricted to choosing candidates from the party for which they have registered support Twenty-nine states permit "open primaries" in which a voter may back a candidate regardless of party affiliation. Strategic voting may take place with, for example, Republicans backing a perceived weaker Democratic candidate Primaries first emerged in early 20th Century. It was argued that leaving the nomination process to party bosses was undemocratic Q&A: New Hampshire primary State profile: New Hampshire

He has a perfect smile which he flashes freely at the assembly in front of him and he knows how to work a crowd and build the dynamics of his speech, something which front-runner John Kerry is still working at.

Mr Edwards came from nowhere in Iowa to a strong second place and some think he could do the same here and surprise the pundits again.

His positive, optimistic message goes down well in Nashua and many believe that he would do well in the South - since 1960 no Democrat has won the White House without being a Southerner.

The main question mark relates to his relative lack of experience in national security and foreign policy.

In an alternate reality in which the 11 September attacks had not happened, Mr Edwards would probably walk his way to the Democratic nomination and to the White House.

His message of uniting two Americas which have grown apart had broad appeal and his own personal life story - the son of a mill worker who was the first in his family to go to university - also gives him the chance to talk about opportunity for everybody.

The indefinable air of excitement surrounds Mr Edwards in Nashua but some of those who might otherwise be drawn to him seem to turn instead to the more solid, heavy figure of John Kerry.

Mr Kerry's credentials as a Vietnam veteran help draw those in who believe that security may be the number one issue in this campaign and a Democrat needs to be tough on it.

Given the crowds he is pulling and the way he works them, Mr Edwards could still give Mr Kerry - or anyone else - a run for their money.

Click here for earlier diary entry: Kerry woos the jocks