In New Hampshire, wary voters want to go outside the status quo

Concord, New Hampshire

PETROL is at US$1.76 per gallon in New Hampshire. The nation's unemployment rate has just hit an eight-year low.

Obviously, this is a country in dire need of a big change, said Charles Pewitt, 47, a New Hampshire businessman standing inside a political rally on Friday. "To say that the unemployment rate is low, and gas (petrol) is cheap, so everybody should be 'Happy days are here again'" doesn't ring true, said Mr Pewitt.