Still . . . The whole purpose of doing it unannounced is to avoid a crowd scene so you can make it as impromptu as presidential politics can be these days. Photographers rush to their cars like kids on a scavenger hunt. Exactly five minutes later, Bush strides through the lobby and jumps onto his chartered bus. The motorcade weaves through rush hour traffic toward Blake's, a popular breakfast joint in Goffstown.
Breakfast is more than a meal here, something approaching a religious ritual.
So if you want to be president, you have to hit the diners. He is extremely comfortable with diner-style campaigning. He strides into Blake's and plops himself without hesitation between two guys on stools at the counter. It's totally natural part from the six lenses trained on his face from 18 inches away. Just as planned, the sparse crowd at Blake's had little warning, unless they were tipped off by the appearance of several Texas Rangers some 30 minutes ahead of Bush.