EMBROKE, N.H. - Senator John McCain, still bleary-eyed from the previous night's Republican presidential debate, walked into Pembroke Academy here at 8 a.m. yesterday and could hardly refrain from turning giddy.
More than 800 students, military veterans, and townspeople filled the school gymnasium. On one wall hung an enormous reproduction of what has become known as the ''stud poster,'' a Vietnam War-era photo of McCain in full aviator regalia. Another poster said simply, ''Return Respect.''
McCain reveled in all this for a while, and then, in a manner that many of the assembled New Hampshirites seemed to find endearing, the 63-year-old referred to himself as ''an old geezer'' as he spun off one story after another about his 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war.
Throughout it all, he frequently made fun of himself. ''I had a guy the other day who told me he had been to five of my town meetings,'' McCain said. ''That is ample testimony of my inability to close the sale.''
But it was evident yesterday, after a generally well-reviewed performance in GOP debate, that McCain is trying to close the sale of his candidacy in the first-primary state by trying to remain above the fray. While his aides watched in delight as front-runner George W. Bush exchanged harsh words with Steve Forbes during the debate, McCain praised both men and was praised by Bush. In return, he came away from the nationally televised forum with few scars.
In the most telling moment at McCain's early campaign appearance yesterday, the Arizona senator introduced three local politicians who announced that they were switching their support from Bush to McCain. One of McCain's new supporters said he had concluded that Bush does not have the character or experience to be president, while McCain does.
McCain, however, distanced himself from such criticism of Bush.
''I appreciate the comments they're making,'' McCain said. ''I understand everyone has different reasons for their allegiance ... I believe Governor Bush is qualified.''
But McCain added: ''I believe I am more qualified.''
McCain began his day at sunrise, boarding his ''Straight Talk Express'' bus with an entourage of reporters that included CBS News anchor Dan Rather, whose presence was viewed by some aides as evidence of McCain's rising candidacy.
But McCain was the first to question how far he could go.
''I am sure I will say something stupid or inappropriate,'' McCain told reporters. Asked about how he could win the nomination, McCain said, ''I don't see a clear path to victory. This is a very tough row to hoe and we are still very far behind.''
McCain knows, however, that New Hampshire has long been fertile ground for reform-minded, blunt-talking candidates. So McCain's pitch yesterday was tailored to highlight positions that are at odds with the Republican Party leadership. Again and again, he pounded away at what he considers to be the evil of unlimited ''soft money'' campaign contributions.
''I am determined to give the government back to you,'' McCain said in what has become the signature line of his campaign.
The appeal struck just the right chord with listeners like Jim Palmquist, a World War II bombardier from nearby Chichester. Palmquist said he valued McCain's experience as a veteran and his push for overhauling the campaign finance system. But Palmquist shared some of McCain's own uncertainty about how far the candidate can go.
''I'm afraid it's not going to happen,'' Palmquist said, referring to the trouble McCain may experience in other states. But Palmquist figured that McCain's best chance of winning the nomination would be to win in New Hampshire. So Palmquist, invoking the tradition of New Hampshire voters in past primaries, said he plans to send a message with his vote for McCain, and then sit back and see if the rest of the country is listening.
