HANOVER, N.H. - Six-year-old Nikkita Gottling may not know what Al Gore does for a living, but she knew enough to be in the right place at the right time.

The Sunapee girl and her mother were browsing through the Dartmouth Bookstore before a doctor's appointment Wednesday afternoon when the vice president came in.

Spying Nikkita at the end of an aisle, Gore went over and began reading the book she was holding, "Tikvah Means Hope'' by Patricia Polacco, a tale of a cat that survives a fire.

When a reporter asked Nikkita whether she knew who Gore was, the girl said no. Her mother, a Democrat who has yet to choose a candidate, helped her out.

"He helps run the country,'' Sally Gottling said.

Perhaps hoping to sway her mother's vote, Gore motioned the girl to the counter.

"Come on, Nikkita, let's go buy your book,'' he said.

And he did.

Outside the store, there was some confusion over which candidate the crowd was waiting to see.

"I think it's Bradley,'' one passerby said.

"No, I think it's Gore,'' said another.

Anyone counting the campaign signs on the sidewalk would have guessed Bradley - his sign-holders outnumbered Gore's by at least 10 to one.

As Gore emerged, only a few of his supporters waved their signs, their chants of "Gore! Gore! Gore!'' drowned out by Bradley's camp.

"Two, four, six, eight. Who are we going to nominate?'' they yelled. "Bradley!''

Earlier in the day, Bradley slowly plowed through dozens of journalists and a handful of passers-by along the same street, shaking hands and making small talk.

Bonnie Ladeau grabbed his right hand with both of hers.

"You're one of the honest ones,'' she said, gazing up at the former basketball star.

He played down the importance of the evening's forum.

"Every day is an important day when you're campaigning,'' Bradley told reporters.

From Tim Van Leer's spot on Main Street, Gore and Bradley were good for business, but he says neither would be good for the country.

Van Leer spent Wednesday morning selling jewelry, socks, fleece hats and other odds and ends from a sidewalk cart.

He said the crowds the Democratic candidates attracted boosted business a bit, but he'd rather see Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

Bush, however, won't be joining his Republican rivals when they face each other in a forum Thursday night.

"I've been thinking about that,'' Van Leer said. "I think it's probably a smart move for him. Let the other guys battle it out, let them do the damage.''

The 35-year-old Hanover resident said he considers himself an independent. He voted for President Clinton in 1992, but went for Bob Dole four years ago.

"I'm hoping Bush picks up Elizabeth Dole as his running mate,'' he said.

Arizona Sen. John McCain also was in the right place Wednesday. Arriving a day ahead of the Republican debate, he announced a plan to pay for a national school voucher program by canceling government subsidies for ethanol, sugar and the gas and oil industries.

McCain said he isn't taking anything for granted despite his recent gains in the polls. He said he considers all his challengers, even those in single digits, viable candidates.

"I believe at this time in 1992, there was an obscure governor of Arkansas who was mired in single digits who came on very strong in this state,'' he said, referring to President Clinton.

McCain, following the examples of Republican rivals Bush and conservative Steve Forbes, will begin airing his first television advertisement this week.

Aides said it is a biographical spot that draws from his rich personal history, including five years in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp.

His campaign planned to unveil the ads Thursday in New Hampshire, hours before the second GOP debate.

Gore recently aired his first ad, which is biographical. None of the campaigns have resorted to negative campaign ads as yet.