In addition to the eight major Republican and Democratic candidates most people know of, New Hampshire voters will see the names of 22 others. Many see the primary's national media spotlight as a way to spread a message.

"I'm disappointed about what I've seen and not seen, and that's why I got into it," said Republican Richard Peet, 71, of McLean, Va.

Many long-shot candidates deal in political issues you won't hear during the nationally broadcast debates.

Democrat Mark Greenstein, 35, of Culver City, Calif., is pushing an airborne Service Corps, that, among other things, would unjam clogged highways.

"The Service Corps shall be permitted to fly helicopters ... from which servicemen can rappel to any disabled vehicle, secure it to cables from the chopper and lift the vehicle off the highway to a service station."

Safety permitting, Greenstein also would let airline passengers board and leave planes from the front and rear at the same time, cutting required time by 40 percent.

Democrat Jim Taylor of St. Paul, Minn., is raising money by selling ambassadorships, "and if we get a higher bid later for the same ambassadorship, we just replace them."

He's making a film of his candidacy -- a sequel to a film about obscure candidates in the 1996 primary.

"We assume it will be very funny," he said.

Democrat Charles Buckley, 57, of Whitefield, N.H., expects a big bash for his 58th birthday. It coincides with Inauguration Day, and he plans to be in Washington, being sworn in.

"At the risk of sounding obnoxious and self-righteous, I am more qualified than (Al) Gore and (Bill) Bradley," Buckley said. "I'm a former clerk of court, former probation officer, former teacher, former bank examiner, a trial lawyer for 30 years, a Navy veteran."

At 5 feet, 9 inches, Buckley said he couldn't play basketball like Bradley, but he has a football-like plan: six points with a point-after. It focuses on education, defense, the environment, social concerns, Social Security, family values and affordable housing.

Republican Thomas Oyler, 54, an industrial engineer from Wichita, Kan., had a tough time answering the key question: Why are you running?

"I knew you were going to ask that, and I don't have a good reason," he said. "I guess I'm just upset with everything that's going on, and I thought I'd give it a shot."

Republican Timothy Mosby, of Red Bluff, Calif., had more questions than answers about being on the ballot.

"Does that cover the ballot in Iowa and California, too?" he asked.

No.

"Do I have to come out there (to New Hampshire)?"

No.

Mosby described himself as an out-of-work, self-taught scientist who believes in hybrid cars that run on electricity and gasoline. He also wants to spread the gospel and use space technology to improve everyone's well-being.

Andy Martin of West Palm Beach, Fla., has been running television commercials in New Hampshire since before Thanksgiving. The most recent accuses Texas Gov. George W. Bush of having used cocaine.

Florida authorities say Martin is wanted on contempt of court charges for insulting a judge; Martin says the matter is under appeal.

A Republican, Martin recently predicted he would finish fourth in New Hampshire.

Lawyer Sam Berry, of Medford, Ore., got into politics "hoping to accomplish on a larger scale what I had tried to do as a lawyer: find creative solutions to people's problems."

The Republican calls affirmative action "an un-American social experiment which works an injustice on current generations in a futile attempt to correct past wrongs."

Democrat Randy Crow, of Wilmington, N.C., has run for office in his own state to promote anti-Semitic and anti-government views. He believes the FBI blew up TWA Flight 800 with a laser and that free enterprise is being destroyed by Wall Street.

Democrat Thomas Koos, of Woodside, Calif., knows he won't win but wants to get others involved.

"Being a candidate allows me to engage strangers in conversation, and it is amazing to see how so many people just want to talk about their concerns, hopes and ideas about this nation," he wrote in an e-mail.

A photograph on his Web site shows him on a grassy field, arms folded, wearing sunglasses, a T-shirt and colorful shorts and staring off into the distance.

Jeffrey Peters, of Jackson, N.H., hopes the national media spotlight will make him a coalition candidate for We the People, representing nonvoters, independents and disillusioned Democrats and Republicans.

According to his Web site, his main issue is campaign finance reform and getting power and policy to work from the bottom up, not the top down.

"Where is the passion of the 60s? Why are we without strong voices -- where is the action, where are our voices?" he writes.

When Heather Anne Harder, of Crown Point, Ind., wasn't satisfied with child care for her kids, she started her own center; when she wasn't satisfied with a publisher she worked with, she founded a publishing company; and when she didn't like what she saw coming out of Washington, she began running for president.

The lecturer, university professor and businesswoman says her plan is to give power back to states and individuals by simplifying laws to prevent legislators from hiding perquisites for contributors in complicated legislation. She also would hold national referendums to let Americans speak directly on vital issues.

John Eaton, 77, of Oak Bluffs, Mass., was surprised at the number of Democratic candidates. He thought it might be Gore, Bradley and Eaton.

He plans a big campaign event, but "I just don't want to spill it before I do it."

He has distilled about 320 issues into 15 themes, "but I'd prefer not to hit on them yet."

Eaton ran for homeroom representative in high school in 1940. Three candidates gave speeches. "I invited three friends in, we sang and that seemed to put us over," he recalled.

So, does his presidential campaign event involve singing?

"I'll say one thing -- no, I don't think I should -- I'll wait until I get on stage," he said.

At least we know it will involve a stage.