At a press conference after a campaign stop in Concord Monday, Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, in response to four consecutive questions about his standing in the polls, called the election "an open race," implying that he might finish higher than predicted.

A reporter followed up by asking what would happen if Kerrey finished fifth. "Are you a mathematician?" Kerrey shot back. "I'm not going to finish fifth. Next question."

When the candidates get testy, there is only one thing that can break the monotony of The Road and The Stump: The Scandal.

Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, in the tradition of former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart, was the target this year, with allegations of marital infidelity and draft dodging surfacing in the press.

But this year was different. The story was covered so extensively that Clinton's main opponent became the press.

When the Arkansas governor rebounded from polls, showing him losing support to gain a strong second place finish, Clinton celebrated victory--over the media.

"At least, I've proved one thing," Clinton said in Merrimack Tuesday night. "I can take a punch."

Although the campaign did not always entertain the press corps, some reporters said they were said to see New Hampshire go.

"I'm gonna miss this," one Manchester Union-Leader reporter mumbled to a colleague as they watched the election returns roll in Tuesday night.

"Before the election, we could get better access than some of the national press. Now we're nobodies."