"This guy has the intelligence and the abilityto know what needs to be done," Valcanas said."He's not just a showman."
Tsongas, like every other candidate exceptBush, has benefited from widespreaddissatisfaction with the recession and America'shealth care problems.
"It's a shame that somebody can work 40 yearsof their life and lose everything they own becausethey get sick for six months, " said Don Girouard,a barber in Nashua since 1953. He called Tsongas"one of the few that I would vote for."
In his UNH speech, Tsongas, too, criticizedGeorge Bush and his administration, evokinglaughter when he reminded the crowd of one ofbush's campaign promises.
"All I have to do is say "George Bush as theenvironmental president' and it's a laugh line,"Tsongas said. "That's said."
Tsongas also hammered Bush for hisanti-abortion stance, saying the president was"placating the Reagan right" and calling theposition "a Faustian bargain."
Tsongas has taken liberal positions on mostissues, including the environment and abortionrights. However, he calls himself "pro-business"and supports more conservative economic policies,including a capital gains tax cut like the oneproposed by bush Tuesday night in his State of theUnion address. he also supports the death penalty.
A Sense of Purpose
Monday's speech, however, focused on Tsongas'sbelief that America has lost its sense of purpose,and his promise that, as president, he would tryto restore it.
"What I want to do in this campaign is set astandard for what this country is about," Tsongassaid.
Tsongas described his vision of America byciting an incident from his Peace Corps experiencein 1962. He said that while traveling in Ethiopia,he entered the small grass house of a nativecitizen. Inside the house, Tsongas saw twopictures on the wall: one of Ethiopian EmperorHaile Selassie, the other of President John F.Kennedy '40.
"We stood for something--there was purpose inAmerica," Tsongas said. "It's not Democrat orRepublican. It's that you stand for something."
Tsongas also addressed what many have calledhis biggest barrier to election--his similarity to1988 Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis.
"When I got into this race, it was not becauseI thought the earth was crying for a Greekdemocrat from Massachusetts to run," Tsongasacknowledged. He said, however, that he was proudof his Greek heritage and that he wouldn'tapologize for being from Massachusetts until Bushapologized for being born there.
Supporters say they think Tsongas's perceivedlack of charisma may not prove as damaging as ithas been for candidates in the past.
"He may not have the charisma that the countrywas looking for in the '80s," said Marcucci, thecampaign volunteer. "[But now] I think people arelooking for someone who can do something.