By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 2/2/2000

ANCHESTER, N.H. - Brian Levesque was saving his vote until his morning shift at the crowded Red Arrow Diner had ended.

NEW HAMPSHIRE RESULTS Republican 98% of precincts reporting McCain 49% Bush 31% Forbes 13% Keyes 6% Bauer 1% Democrats 98% of precincts reporting Gore 52% Bradley 47% Percentages will not necessarily add to 100. FROM THE GLOBE Democrats fight to a close finish Independents turn GOP contest Contrarians speak up, leaders get wake up call Arizona senator has found strength in his weaknesses Independent voters say character was key to decision Why they voted the way they did Result no setback for Bush backer Cellucci Primary shows off NBC synergy Independents seen taking up the insurgents' fight Bauer, Keyes unbowed as they vow to soldier on Forbes hopes to make it a three-way race Bush campaign says it's ready to move on In Granite State diner, a final helping of politics First primary settled, campaigns mull new tactics On campaign trail, it's a frantic pace Vow of tenacity keeps Bradley's spirits high, focus keen For vice president's campaign, no letup in asking for votes NECN VIDEO Forbes praises McCain win, asks for more support Keyes will stay in race, despite big N.H. loss Gore wins the Democratic N.H. primary over Bradley Bradley greets voters at polls Will Bradley triumph? Turnout heavy in Granite State Can McCain pull off a victory? Gore makes a last minute effort These video clips are viewed using RealPlayer. Get RealPlayer | Help EARLIER COVERAGE Gore wins close race among Democrats McCain savors big win over Bush in GOP race True to tradition, N.H. tests front-runners McCain impressed voters as straight shooter GOP voters happier with candidates than in '96 Independents say character was key to vote Granite State voters have their say N.H. Secretary of State again predicts high turnout Keys to reading the New Hampshire returns Bradley, McCain win Dixville Notch, Hart's Location

Meanwhile, the 30-year-old waiter spotted the only empty stool in the restaurant, took a two-minute break near the dessert refrigerator, and explained the process behind his ballot-casting decision.

In his hand was a blue flier, left behind by a little-known fringe candidate who had come in for a bite.

''In addition to being a presidential candidate, Jim Taylor has been a waiter, temp worker, massage therapist, band road manager, a writer, a filmmaker, and has worked the grill at McDonald's,'' an incredulous Levesque read out loud.

''Everything he says is a good idea,'' conceded Levesque, a Democrat. ''But he wants instant utopia.''

As for the major candidates, George W. Bush, as seen on TV, had an ''arrogance that was a turnoff.'' Vice President Al Gore had also been in the diner to shake Levesque's hand. That was fun, but not enough.

So Levesque, who brushed off Bill Bradley's last-minute negative campaigning as a momentary lapse, borne of exhaustion, in an otherwise honest campaign, was voting for the former New Jersey senator and basketball star.

''I looked at him and he had bags under his eyes like this,'' Levesque said of Bradley. ''They're tired.''

But in the end, it was how Bradley spoke (''he has a lot of sincerity'') and not what he said, because his platform was nearly indistinguishable from Gore's, Levesque said.

Patrick Tucker, a left-leaning independent voter and a Vietnam veteran, almost cast his ballot for John McCain, but he said the Arizona senator's antiabortion stance got in the way.

He voted for Gore.

''It's a character thing in both cases,'' the 58-year-old from Goffstown said. ''They both paid their dues.''

McCain paid his as a prisoner of war. Gore paid his in the Clinton administration. And both emerged unscathed, Tucker said, adding that he appreciates Gore's commitment to family. ''He's been with the same woman a long time.''

Gore picked up another vote from Eddy Gazda, 69, a retired gas-company employee from Manchester. ''I think Bradley is too far out,'' said Gazda, a Democrat. ''He wants too much too fast.''

Gazda said President Clinton's sex scandal did not taint the vice president, and he hoped Gore could keep the economy chugging along.

''I'm making money. I'm saving money. Couldn't be better,'' said Gazda, scanning the narrow diner for a seat.

In between spoonfuls of soup, Sharon Boutin, a sign-language interpreter from Salem, said she still was undecided but was being influenced by her husband, who heard McCain give a spirited town hall speech in their hometown last week and immediately signed up for his campaign.

Although she is an independent who often leans toward Democrats, Boutin said, the Democratic candidates just didn't interest her. She was also considering Steve Forbes ''because he's spending his own money and has passion and drive.''

Lee Rivard, a tutor from Manchester, said she was voting for Bradley because he is the anti-Clinton.

''The president should be someone you look up to and respect,'' said Rivard, 34, while seated with her students at a table covered with hot dogs and french fries. ''But this was not a protest vote.''

It was for Leonard Hooper. The 75-year-old from Manchester chose Bush, whom he considers the ''lesser of two evils.'' Hooper, a Republican treating himself to an early lunch at the Red Arrow, bypassed McCain because he did not believe the senator was really an outsider candidate. ''McCain's been in the crowd too long,'' Hooper, a World War II veteran, said of McCain's 17-year career on Capitol Hill. Bush, the Texas governor, would bring ''honesty and morality'' to the White House, while Clinton and Gore are ''pathological liars.''

The vote was an easy decision for him, but not one that made him happy. ''The best man was Harry Truman,'' Hooper said. ''He was a man of convictions.''