Julia Spitz: Marlborough, N.H.: Where every vote matters

The candidates have passed through here many times.

On their way somewhere else.

``You get the state police escorts coming through,'' Police Chief Christopher Lyons said Tuesday morning as he looked out on Main Street, Rte. 101.

Down the road is Keene, where Marlborough teens attend high school and presidential hopefuls rally early and often. In the other direction lies Peterborough, another frequent stop on the trail.

Still, Marlborough residents get attention.

Campaign workers ``call and call and call,'' said resident Pamela Parrish, who cast her vote at the Federated Church of Marlborough's Community House shortly before 10 a.m.

Parrish declined to say who earned her pencil mark. ``My vote is secret. That's what this country is all about.''

What she will reveal is ``if you live in New Hampshire, it's extremely important to get out and vote ... and to know what you're doing.''

In the town settled by former residents of Massachusetts' Marlborough, Westborough and Southborough in the 1760s, locals take their vote seriously.

``The accessibility of the politicians that come through New Hampshire is just remarkable,'' said Rufus Frost, a descendant of one of the town's early settlers and the kind of ``undeclared'' voter candidates have fervently courted.

He's shaken hands with Republicans John McCain and Mike Huckabee, ``and even had a small conversation with both of them. You can do that early on in the primary season.''

McCain has Frost's support. There's a big sign in front of the house on Frost Hill Road, and ``I saw McCain in Keene yesterday,'' he said.

Frost, a Marine Corps veteran, wore his Marines baseball cap to the event, and said McCain confided one of his sons is a lance corporal on active duty.

``He won't tell you that,'' said Frost. ``That tells you something about his character,'' that McCain wouldn't exploit his son's service for votes.

Outside the Community House, Andi Johnson expressed her admiration for Hillary Clinton by holding several Clinton signs and waving to drivers even before polls opened at 8 a.m.

``I've been working for Hillary since February,'' she said. ``I met her many years ago,'' when Bill Clinton was running for his first term.

Mrs. Clinton got the first vote of the morning, from Regis McNulty.

``I was the first voter last time,'' too, she said. ``I was always interested in politics. Back in the '30s and '40s, your father's job depended on (politics),'' at least where she grew up, in Chelsea.

``You hear on TV we scrutinize the candidates'' in New Hampshire. ``It's very true,'' said McNulty.

``I just wanted you to know, I voted for change,'' Larry Antonuk told Johnson and McNulty as he walked by. That made them laugh, since the politically savvy know every candidate has declared he or she represents change.

``I'm an anyone-but-Hillary,'' Roland Mitchell said after casting his ballot for John Edwards.

``We'll all be together in the end,'' Clinton sign-holder Johnson told him.

``No, we won't, if Hillary wins,'' Mitchell replied.

That's the kind of sentiment that pushed Anna Tilton toward Barack Obama.

``I think Hillary would be a great candidate, but I think she draws a visceral reaction, like from Roland,'' said Tilton, a former state representative.

She originally backed Christopher Dodd because of ``his stand for our civil rights. He was the only one talking about protecting our Constitution from all these encroachments.'' Once Dodd bowed out, she decided Obama was the one.

But that's not what her son thinks, she said as she left her Obama sign for someone else to hold at 11 a.m.

``I'm going to go get my son so he can vote for Ron Paul,'' though the fact her 24-year-old is voting Republican doesn't bother Tilton. ``At least he's (politically) engaged.''

Michael McIntyre voted for Democrat Obama because ``I trust him, which is more than I can say for most politicians.''

McIntyre's wife, Elizabeth, cast her ballot for Republican Huckabee.

``And I'm canceling out his vote,'' she said.

But it was just politics, nothing personal. The pair held hands as they walked away.

``I think the national press misinterprets the New Hampshire vote every time,'' said Mitchell. For instance, McCain's popularity in 2000 ``was an anti-Bush'' message, not a pro-McCain one, said the Clinton-averse Marlborough man.

The early votes were diverse in the small town whose rich soil drew the early settlers and former granite quarry provided stone used at Holy Cross College and Union Station in Worcester.

Lizabeth Mclaughlin sported a Bill Richardson sticker on her lapel when she stopped to talk with Johnson. ``He's got to have a few votes,'' she said.

``We don't miss an election,'' said Peter Humphrey, who came in perfectly pressed bib overalls to support Mitt Romney.

``It's a liberal area, but not necessarily Democrat or Republican,'' said Jon Brunette, working behind the counter at Jitter Beans coffee shop. ``You can't look at anyone and know how they'll vote.''

Just before they got the all-clear from crossing guard Scott Hopkins, a mother walking with her son to Marlborough Elementary yesterday told the child she'd be casting her vote for Rudy Giuliani.

``Unfortunately, the president isn't elected through popular vote,'' said Hopkins, and ``our electoral votes don't mean much'' compared to states like California and New York.

But being the first primary in the country does.

``It puts us on the map,'' said Hopkins.

Julia Spitz can be reached at 508-626-3968 or jspitz@cnc.com.

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