Paula Young owns her own business, as well as her own views. Everything about her says so. The 42-year-old Wolfeboro woman brought her 19-year-old daughter to the State House yesterday to listen to John McCain, a presidential candidate they like very much.

She voted for Al Gore in 2000, George Bush in '04. And she'd consider voting for Hillary Clinton or John Edwards come November - if her vote for Mike Huckabee today doesn't help him win the Republican nomination.

"This is my daughter's first presidential election," said Young, who rebuilds homes for families in need. "I'm just trying to teach her that she needs to be invested, that you have an opportunity in New Hampshire to stay undeclared, stay independent. You can really get to know the candidates and who matches what you believe in, what's important to you."

Young and others like her are important to Democrats and Republicans running in today's first-in-the-nation primary. Numbers from the secretary of state say that 45 percent of registered New Hampshire voters do not align with either party.

This is a change. Each year, the share of undeclared voters increases. This year, they could decide the outcome of both races.

And while Young is sold on Huckabee, who dominated the Iowa caucuses Thursday, she's keeping her eyes open when it comes to the general election. Just in case.

"It's important for me to know everybody, to know a second place if we need a second place."

Liz Cooper, a Concord housewife, is leaning toward McCain. But she also fits the form of a true undeclared voter. Her husband supports Barack Obama, and her two young daughters carried Obama signs yesterday in front of the State House.

"I think Obama is inexperienced, and I think a lot of people say they're all attorneys," Cooper said. "He's a Harvard Law guy, so of course he can speak well.

"McCain seems sincere in that he's giving you a straight story, and he's not worried about offending people and telling them what they don't want to hear. He tells them what he thinks."

McCain is popular with many undeclared voters. The group helped him beat Bush in the 2000 primary.

"I think he truly believes everything he says," said Jan Bass, a health education professor at Plymouth State University, who voted for McCain eight years ago.

But this year, she likes Obama. She likes his message of hope and thinks that he would be best able to repair relations abroad. Being African-American helps.

"Now is a really important time for that," Bass said, "so that we can relate well to the world and other cultures."

McCain has cultivated an image as a maverick through his brand of retail politics.

"He seems to me to be an independent thinker," said Gary DuBreuil, 21, of Plymouth.

But today, DuBreuil is voting for Edwards. "I think we need more of a change, more of a shift from what we have," he said.

McCain lost DuBreuil's support when he supported Bush's troop surge.

Luljeta Shqevi said that ending the war must be our most immediate priority. She would vote for Clinton, she said, in her first election as a U.S. citizen.

Her son liked Clinton until a recent debate.

"You know how she attacked Obama when they were on the same team?" said Iv "Bill" Shqevi, 21. "Now I am thinking maybe Huckabee. I like how he plays the guitar."

Several voters still needed to do their research.

"Huckabee's a Republican, right?" asked Nick Watson, 26. "He's all right. I don't know."

Recent personal issues in his own life had made it difficult to concentrate on politics. "When your life is all organized, it's easier to pay attention and get involved," he said.

He likes Obama.

"I just get a feeling about him," Watson said.

Jim Rowe, a former Concord city councilor, was trying to decide between the same two candidates, Huckabee and Obama. Both represent a change from the status quo. (next page »)