Republican Sen. John McCain visited New Hampshire yesterday for the first time since accepting his party's nomination for president, energizing his supporters by adding Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the ticket and receiving a boost in recent polls. But he still likes to think of himself as the underdog.

"I think we have a long way to go, and I think the race is still - I would have to consider Sen. Obama the favorite," McCain said.

McCain rolled into the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon in a caravan of buses and SUVs with his entourage of aides, Secret Service agents and traveling press. But he reminisced about his two New Hampshire primary comebacks in 2000 and again this year, when he traveled "group C, middle seat" on Southwest.

McCain seemed comfortable returning to primary-style politicking, stopping for photos with race fans, making an unscheduled stop to shake hands at a Manchester sports bar and even inviting reporters to the back of his bus for an interview, something he hasn't done for weeks amid criticism of his running mate.

"It really does energize me," he said of his underdog mind-set.

McCain said he's pleased with the enthusiasm his supporters have shown for Palin - she will visit New Hampshire in a few weeks - and said the campaign is "gaining some traction" with Hillary Clinton supporters it hopes to attract.

But he said he expects many ups and downs before the election, especially in battleground states such as New Hampshire, where victories have been slim in recent elections and many voters still haven't made up their minds.

McCain tried to appeal to those voters yesterday at the Sylvania 300 Sprint Cup race, which also afforded him a national television audience. He and his wife, Cindy, stopped in at the drivers' meeting just before the race and thanked them for supporting men and women in the military.

"You are their role models," he said. "You are their heroes."

He also met Bruton Smith, the track's owner, and NASCAR legend Richard Petty, who showed him around the garage and pits. McCain was joined by Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and his wife, Shonda, as well as John Sununu.

The group shook hands with Joe Gibbs, a team owner and former NFL head coach, and stopped to chat with the Wood Brothers racing team, which is sponsored by the U.S. Air Force.

Crowds parted and fans snapped pictures with cell phones as bodyguards ushered the group from one car hauler to another. But most had racing on their minds, shouting out to Petty and team owner Jim Roush as they passed with McCain.

Gretchen Castaldi, a first-grade teacher at Beaver Meadow School, rushed up and asked McCain to take his picture with her. She was hoping for a picture with driver Kyle Petty, she admitted.

Castaldi, who was a Hillary Clinton supporter, said she's still considering McCain and appreciated seeing him at the track.

"That's great that he can be a people person, because that's definitely something I think that we need," she said.

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