"I think he was fine for the '40s and '50s but he's not aware of the economic realities of the world," said Art I. Grand, a 40-year-old Nashua resident.

Grand, who supports former Massachusetts Sen. Paul E. Tsongas, spoke in an interview before a Nashua town meeting yesterday. Compared to Tsongas, Grand said, Harkin--and the other Democrats--is "not nearly as smart."

"He's 20 or 30 years behind the times," Grand said.

Others, however, say that Harkin's ideas are not necessarily bad but that his campaign has been ineffective.

"He's had some ideas, but somehow he falls short," said brewery worker David Hudon, 51, a life-long New Hampshire resident. "He just doesn't have any momentum."

And one Harkin supporter, attending a conference in Manchester on Saturday, saw the problem in much the same way.

"He'd be a great president, [but] he's a terrible campaigner," said Bob Egbert, 48, of Manchester. "He can't campaign worth shit."

Even so, Harkin fans demonstrate a depth of support uncommon in other Democratic voters, many of whom seem hesitant in their commitment to candidates.

Egbert, who teaches political science at Plymouth State College, complains that unabashed liberalism is exactly what the Democrats need.

"The rest are trying to out-Reagan Reagan andout-Bush Bush," Egbert said.

And Record, the ardent Salem campaigner, calledHarkin the "most noble, patriotic" candidate.

"It's time that this need for patriotism isfulfilled," Record said.

Tomorrow: The effect of religion on NewHampshire voters.