PEMBROKE, N.H. - WITH THE NEW HAMPSHIRE primary campaign in its final days, voters are now focusing hard on their choices - and on Wednesday, a number of those I talked to at John McCain events had either settled on the Arizona senator or were trying to decide between him and one other candidate.
Some were diehard McCain supporters who said they had never wavered in their support, even when McCain seemed to be fading away.
What was more interesting, however, were those who were still making up their minds or those who had abandoned McCain at some point, only to find themselves drawn back to him more recently.
Beverly Tessier, a Concord Republican who came to see McCain speak at Pembroke Academy, said she was trying to choose between him and Mike Huckabee.
What about Mitt Romney?
''He changes his mind too much,'' she said. ''He is whichever way the wind blows.''
Tessier worries that Huckabee doesn't have enough foreign policy knowledge. But she was also concerned that McCain's health and stamina might not be up to eight years in the White House.
When she queried McCain about that, the 71-year-old candidate replied he was only asking for votes for a first term. But he assured her that he was in fine health, contended his campaign schedule was more grueling than any of his rivals', and regaled her with a story about his 95-year-old mother's car-touring trip through France last Christmas.
She found his answer to her liking, Tessier said in a follow-up phone interview. ''I feel like he addressed it in regard to some of his family health and also his stamina,'' she said. She's waiting to watch Saturday's debate before making up her mind, but McCain has clearly made progress.
''I am leaning more toward McCain than I was, but it is still not a done deal,'' she said.
Ken Dufour, a Nashua realtor and a Republican, said he had supported McCain in 2000, but had wavered this time around because he had been put off by McCain's support for immigration legislation he himself considered too lenient.
''I didn't like his stand on immigration, but he kind of reversed his position, and that is what has got me back into the fold,'' Dufour said. As for Romney, ''he came across as being polished, but it seemed like more of a sales pitch.''
McCain also made headway with small business owner Tom Hageman of Chichester, an independent who is concerned about illegal immigration because his brother, who works in the printing industry in Connecticut, has seen printing wages depressed, something he attributes to the number of undocumented workers in that field. But after McCain explained his new approach - which emphasizes securing the borders first and deporting those illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes, then instituting a temporary worker program, with no one here illegally put ahead of those following the legal process to come here - Hageman judged it reasonable.
''If you asked me about McCain six months ago, I would have said he makes a good Democrat,'' he said in a follow-up interview. ''But I liked his answer and I kind of agree with what he said.''
That leaves him leaning McCain's way.
''I am between McCain and Romney, and McCain seems more like a real kind of guy,'' Hageman concluded.
One independent voter who asked that only his first name - Tony - be used said he had voted for McCain last time around, but had been leaning toward Bill Richardson this time, until concluding that Richardson probably wasn't going anywhere. What about Romney? ''Romney waffles too much,'' he replied.
So, though he disagreed with McCain on the war and worried he might be too old, Tony said he would vote for him a second time because he admired his character.
''He's a straightforward guy,'' he said. ''I am tired of all the phony stuff.''
Later that day at Insight Technology in Londonderry, Fawne Gaudette, a Republican, said she too would likely vote for McCain again.
''I like his honesty,'' she said. As for Romney, she judged him a good speaker, but added: ''I felt like when he was speaking he told us everything we wanted to hear. I didn't feel like he was telling us his actual views.''
Another woman who would only give her first name - Susan - was more biting about the former Massachusetts governor. ''I refer to him as Slick Willie,'' she said. ''He seems very plastic to me.''
Still, two of those sitting with her said they would likely vote for Romney, whom they judged intelligent and able.
Another Insight Technology employee, who asked that only his first name - Jeff - be used, came to the event leaning toward Romney, but was interested in hearing McCain because a lot of his friends like the senator.
In a follow-up interview, however, Jeff, a Republican, said he wasn't particularly impressed and would stick with Romney.
''It is hard to see what senators have accomplished,'' he said. ''I kind of lean toward a governor.''
Back at Pembroke Academy, Marilyn Ross and Janet Anderson, both 78 and both of Pembroke, had come out the morning after a heavy snow to hear McCain. Anderson, a Republican, said she had considered Romney but decided he didn't seem sure of himself on the issues, and so had come back to McCain, whom she considers ''tried and true.'' Ross, an independent, was taking a look.
Both judged McCain more authentic than Romney.
''What you see is what you get,'' said Anderson.
Her friend wasn't quite sure that was what she wanted. Afterward, however, she said she had been impressed.
''He was very good,'' she said. So had McCain closed the deal? Not quite.
''I have one other candidate I am considering,'' she said.
After all, the primary's not till Tuesday.
Scot Lehigh's e-mail address is lehigh@globe.com. 
