N.H. Voters Frustrated by Candidates

MANCHESTER, N.H.--With less than four days before the voting booths open here in the Granite State, all five major Democratic candidates are facing an invisible but formidable opponent.

The Undecided.

With polls showing anywhere from a third to half of all New Hampshire voters still unsure for whom they will vote on Tuesday, candidates are wooing the unusually large group that just can't make up its mind.

Many voters complain that the choice that has been left to them--between five major presidential candidates and more than two dozen minor ones--is no choice at all.

"Most of us don't know what we're really going to do," said bookkeepr Aldona Hoppe, 58, as she sat doing her knitting in the Notre Dame College gymnasium before a conference on the savings and loan crisis Saturday.

"We're sort of sick and tired of the whole bunch," she said.

And Laverne Cassidy, the 54-year old owner of Sweet Food Market in Salem, sitting in her empty convenience store, spoke of her own dissatisfaction.

"Everybody's just talking and saying nothing--which is typical of politicians," Cassidy said.

The rise of former Massachusetts Sen. Paul E. Tsongas over Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton in the polls this week reflects the fluidity of New Hampshire Democrats' votes. But those polled have also said they are still unclear on who they will choose on Tuesday.

In 1998, widely perceived public apathy caused the media to dub the Democratic candidates "the seven dwarfs." This year, with the recession having decimated the state's economy, New Hampshire voters are not apathetic--they are frustrated.

Roger R. Plamondon, 40, used to work in manufacturing. After an on the-job injury in 1987, he was laid off and was forced to work other jobs. Currently, he is working at a hotel front deskin Laconia for one-third his former salary andstudying to be a paralegal on the side.

"This is the worst I've ever seen it," said thefather of three, referring to the economy.

Voters interviewed emphasized the need for acandidate who will save the nation from therecession.

"Even with the country in a depression--that'swhat this is--it doesn't seem like people see muchof a choice on either side," said Joe Perrota, 58,sipping coffee at the front counter of Pattavina'sFamily Restaurant in Salem.

But Perrota, a self-employed photographer, saidhe thinks the media is as much to blame as anyonefor the public's frustration.

"It seem it's always something negative. Theydon't express anything on the positives," Perrotasaid.

Fifty yards away at the Pix-Pall Hardwarestore, talk was of fuse boxes and the recession.

"Everyone in this industry is looking forwork," said Kenneth E. Atkins, 51, an electricalengineer with Polaroid. "I don't see any plans tofix these economic problems."

Some voters are so frustrated that they areconsidering not voting. Glen Orso, a 33-year-oldSalem Democrat said he didn't vote in 1988, and hewas thinking about skipping the election again.

"It's not because I think there's a bunch ofgood candidates," Orso said. "It's because there'sa bunch of candidates that are unknown."

Other voters believe that the choice was fareasier last time around.

"In '88, I think the candidates from thebeginning were very pronounced." said Chuck Crow,33, a supervisor for a Manchester truckingcompany. "I think it was clear-out race from thevery beginning."

Like some New Hampshire residents, Crowe was aClinton supporter until allegations ofextramarital affairs and draft dodging appeared inthe press. Now Crowe, who spent Sunday afternoonwatching Tsongas speak in Nashua, is shopping allthe candidates.

"I was leaning toward Clinton," said Crow, aformer army captain who served three years inGermany. "I'm wondering how electable heis--whether he had an affair and whether hepersonally dodged the draft during the VietnamWar."

But other voters say they are doing more thanjust reconsidering the major candidates.

Robert H. Montgomery, a semiretired BostonUniversity professor, dissatisfied with "the fivedwarves running around, all of them campaigningfor the vice presidency," is casting his vote forLenora B. Fulani, a psychologist from New York.

And Marsha A. Passoja, 41, who joined hermother at the savings and loan conference inManchester, said she is so upset with the majorcandidates the she may cast a write-in vote forconsumer advocate Ralph Nadar.

"I haven't been excited about politics in longtime," said Passoja, who rarely votes. "For RalphNader, it's getting citizens to takeresponsibility for the country they live in--[so]that they can have a say."

And a few voters have decieded that theelection itself is irrelevant.

"Winning doesn't mean anything," saidNottingham resident Robert Giffin, 54, from hisaisle seat at the Manchester conference, "becausenothing will changes.

"This is the worst I've ever seen it," said thefather of three, referring to the economy.

Voters interviewed emphasized the need for acandidate who will save the nation from therecession.

"Even with the country in a depression--that'swhat this is--it doesn't seem like people see muchof a choice on either side," said Joe Perrota, 58,sipping coffee at the front counter of Pattavina'sFamily Restaurant in Salem.

But Perrota, a self-employed photographer, saidhe thinks the media is as much to blame as anyonefor the public's frustration.

"It seem it's always something negative. Theydon't express anything on the positives," Perrotasaid.

Fifty yards away at the Pix-Pall Hardwarestore, talk was of fuse boxes and the recession.

"Everyone in this industry is looking forwork," said Kenneth E. Atkins, 51, an electricalengineer with Polaroid. "I don't see any plans tofix these economic problems."

Some voters are so frustrated that they areconsidering not voting. Glen Orso, a 33-year-oldSalem Democrat said he didn't vote in 1988, and hewas thinking about skipping the election again.

"It's not because I think there's a bunch ofgood candidates," Orso said. "It's because there'sa bunch of candidates that are unknown."

Other voters believe that the choice was fareasier last time around.

"In '88, I think the candidates from thebeginning were very pronounced." said Chuck Crow,33, a supervisor for a Manchester truckingcompany. "I think it was clear-out race from thevery beginning."

Like some New Hampshire residents, Crowe was aClinton supporter until allegations ofextramarital affairs and draft dodging appeared inthe press. Now Crowe, who spent Sunday afternoonwatching Tsongas speak in Nashua, is shopping allthe candidates.

"I was leaning toward Clinton," said Crow, aformer army captain who served three years inGermany. "I'm wondering how electable heis--whether he had an affair and whether hepersonally dodged the draft during the VietnamWar."

But other voters say they are doing more thanjust reconsidering the major candidates.

Robert H. Montgomery, a semiretired BostonUniversity professor, dissatisfied with "the fivedwarves running around, all of them campaigningfor the vice presidency," is casting his vote forLenora B. Fulani, a psychologist from New York.

And Marsha A. Passoja, 41, who joined hermother at the savings and loan conference inManchester, said she is so upset with the majorcandidates the she may cast a write-in vote forconsumer advocate Ralph Nadar.

"I haven't been excited about politics in longtime," said Passoja, who rarely votes. "For RalphNader, it's getting citizens to takeresponsibility for the country they live in--[so]that they can have a say."

And a few voters have decieded that theelection itself is irrelevant.

"Winning doesn't mean anything," saidNottingham resident Robert Giffin, 54, from hisaisle seat at the Manchester conference, "becausenothing will changes.