[Excerpts from this article]

Barry Pallino, 23, an accountant, said he went for Kerry. “I like his policy on the environment,” Pallino said.

A retired teacher who gave her name only as Susan, said she voted for Wesley Clark. “I like his stand on the military and his statement on Iraq, since I have a son in the military,” she said.

In Salem, independent Marjorie Aronis, 41, voted for Bush in the 2000 general election, but voted Tuesday for Joe Lieberman. If Lieberman wins the Democratic nomination, she would be happy with either him or Bush, she said.
“Out of all the Democrats, he seems the most moderate,” she said. “All the others are out too far to the left.”

Muriel Pelletier, a Republican from Manchester, also said she likes Lieberman but not enough to change allegiance from Bush. “He stuck to what he believes. I have good vibrations about him,” he said.

Ernest Corriveau, 68, an independent from Salem, voted for Bush last time and would probably vote for him again, but voted for John Edwards on Tuesday.
“I feel if (Bush) is going to lose I should pick the best Democrat in the primary,” he said.

Corriveau, a Korean War veteran, said he picked Edwards because he’s young.
“He seems to have fresh ideas and I have a particular dislike for John Kerry,” said Corriveau.

Paula Graves, 57, of Salem hasn’t voted for six years, but registered as a Democrat on Tuesday so she could vote for Clark. “I think Clark’s got the experience,” Graves said. “I think he’s got what it takes just because of the way the world is right now.”

Debbie Kimball, 47, a registered Democrat in Salem, picked Kerry because of his positions on education and health care. She also thinks its important he’s a veteran. “I have a nephew over in Iraq. … I’d like to see them all come home. I hate war. I think everybody does,” she said.

Donna Mae Dagata, 55, another Salem Democrat, said she voted for Kerry because “he stands for American working people.”

Kieran Fallon, 46, a Democrat from Salem, voted for Edwards because of his positive message. “Tone is important. I get tired of the negative things,” he said.

John and Kimberly Barrett of Manchester said they liked Edward’s populist rhetoric. “He’s more genuine than anyone who’s come along in quite a while,” John Barrett said. “He’s a very straightforward and honest guy.”