MANCHESTER, N.H. -- It's primary pandemonium as candidates in New Hampshire make their final push within hours of the first primary votes in the nation being tallied.
Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Jon Huntsman, and Ron Paul drew frantic crowds outside a polling location at Webster School in Manchester.
"I've never seen it like this; I've never seen so many people," said Manchester attorney Mary Ellen Biletch, who lives just down the street from the school. "It's actually somewhat intimidating, I think, for some of the voters, especially the elderly people."
With many predicting an easy win for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, the battle for second place is heated. As campaigns pull out all the stops for last-minute votes, many voters told KVUE the choice between candidates wasn't an easy one to make.
"I had three, and I'm not going to tell which one I settled on," said Republican voter Valerie Tarbell. "It was tough because I liked views from a lot of different people."
Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman's decision to stake his entire campaign on New Hampshire was a calculated gamble, but at least a few voters told KVUE his gamble won them over.
"I'm an Obama supporter, but I wrote in Jon Huntsman today," said voter Eileen Whittle.
Tarbell and Whittle both credited the same source with helping them form their decision.
"Probably the debates, the issues discussed in the debates and how the gentlemen handled each other," said Tarbell.
Registering at just one percent in most polls, Texas Governor Rick Perry has been notably absent in New Hampshire. Alone among a sea of signs supporting Romney, Paul, and Huntsman, Nancy Sabet held a large sign for Perry.
"I'm a big fan of your governor. He is so qualified. What's wrong with these people?" exclaimed Sabet, who said she came to Manchester from Chicago to support Perry. "Rick Perry is passionate. I can connect to him. Romney, are you kidding me? Plastic!"
Sabet said she credits Perry with Texas' job growth, and as an immigrant, supports his views on immigration and border security.
Whatever the outcome, it's a year many New Hampshire residents told KVUE they won't likely forget.
"I think it's wonderful that so many people are participating and expressing their views," said Biletch.
