Tiny NH town readies for Obama-Clinton swarm

[Hope And Change]

Tiny NH town readies for Obama-Clinton swarm


By HOLLY RAMER, Associated Press Writer
2 minutes ago

UNITY, N.H. - No one cared much about Unity — the town or the ideal — back when more than a dozen candidates were competing in the New Hampshire primary.

"We've had state senators and congressmen and people like that who've walked in our Old Home Day parade when they were campaigning, but I don't remember having any presidential candidates here in my time," said Roberta Callum, who has lived in the tiny western New Hampshire town for all but 12 of her 84 years.

That will change on Friday, when former rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign together for the first time since he won enough delegates to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. As they try to ease tensions and bring their party together, they are seizing upon both the town's symbolism and symmetry — each received 107 Democratic votes in Unity on Jan. 8, plus one write-in vote apiece from Republicans.

Friday's rally will be held outside the Unity Elementary School, where Principal Chip Baldwin first thought the Obama staffer who showed up last week was just another photocopier salesmen.

"My initial reaction was one of awe, and also, 'C'mon, you're pulling my leg,'" Baldwin said Tuesday as several campaign workers took measurements of the school's field. He pointed out the classroom the school's 120 pupils in kindergarten through 8th grade use as their "gym" and said he hopes the weather cooperates Friday, given that there are no indoor options.


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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080624/ap_on_el_pr/anticipating_unity;_ylt=Ak.oh2MyI8JbTKol4nqsupis0NUE