“After I lost the primary in North Carolina, I slept like a baby,” McCain said. “Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry.”

It was the Arizona Republican’s first trip to Exeter since his presidential bid in 2000, when he lost the primary to President George Bush. But McCain is running again in 2008, and he assured supporters he intends to spend a great deal of time in the Granite State. The senator’s recent tour of New Hampshire included scheduled stops in Bedford, Milford, Newport, Bow, Dover, Windham, Nashua and Exeter.

Area residents packed Town Hall on Sunday, filling the seats, balcony and aisles. McCain arrived by bus around 3 p.m. and entered the hall to an excited burst of applause. He loosened up the audience with several jokes and anecdotes before diving into the meat of his speech, addressing issues such as the war in Iraq, federal overspending and climate change.

The senator also vowed to make sure New Hampshire remains at the forefront of the national primaries.

“There’s only one place in America where we have this kind of participation in the political process … and that’s here in New Hampshire,” he said. “New Hampshire must remain first in the election. I will do everything in my power to make sure that that’s the case.”

McCain said the Bush administration has made a number of mistakes in Iraq, but he remains confident that with a new strategy the United States will prevail. Abandoning military operations in Iraq and leaving the job unfinished, he said, would only encourage the nation’s enemies.

“We are now facing an implacable enemy that is a force of evil,” McCain said. “These people have taken an honorable religion and distorted it.”

Asked later to explain how he would defend himself against criticism of his support for the unpopular war, McCain said he would not compromise his convictions. “I can’t worry about that; I have to do what’s right,” he said. “How could I let any political ambition of mine interfere with what’s right for this country?”

McCain criticized the current administration for spending tax dollars irresponsibly and vowed to reform Social Security and Medicare. He said he would combat global warming by exploring green technology and other alternative energy sources. “If we’re really going to reduce greenhouse gases, nuclear power has to be part of the solution,” he said.

In response to a question, McCain addressed the recent uproar over shoddy conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. “There’s no excuse for Walter Reed,” he said. “There’s no excuse for what happened there. It’s inexcusable and I will take responsibility for that.”

Addressing the issue of illegal immigrants in the United States, McCain said it was unreasonable to expect U.S. forces to corral and deport some 12 million aliens. He said people who recently crossed the border from Mexico should be sent back, while those who have lived in the country for a substantial period of time should pay fines and then file documentation to live here legally. Employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, however, should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, he said.

A pro-life activist asked McCain to elaborate whether he supports what she called “fetal tissue research.” “I do support embryonic stem cell research because I believe it has the capability to relieve human suffering in a very big way,” McCain replied. He added that he has always fought for human rights, including the rights of unborn children, and he opposes abortion.

But McCain responded to the next question with a different perspective on global human rights. An Epping man asked the senator if he feels obligated to extend the same rights to suspected terrorists as he would to American citizens. McCain said he would consider the rights of foreign suspects but added they are not entitled to the same rights as American citizens. He called the terrorist suspects “evil and bad people” who had done many “bad things.”

McCain added that he would close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp if elected. This did not sit well with Hampton resident Chris Nevins, who believes the detention camp should remain open. “I think we need to have a justice system for this new type of criminal,” Nevins said moments after McCain concluded his speech. But Nevins said he agreed with most of McCain’s answers. “I’m impressed with his ability to respond to these tough questions, and I guess that’s what we need in our leaders,” he said.

Nevins remains undecided about who he will vote for in the N.H. primary, but fellow Hampton resident John Stump said he was leaning toward McCain. Stump’s father served in the same military squadron with McCain in Mississippi, and the two families lived just a few houses apart. Stump even baby-sat two of McCain’s children with his first wife.

“I have always appreciated everything that he has done and stood for,” he said. “I have no problem with everything that he said, really. I just don’t know if he’s got the people’s support.”

Exeter resident Michele Hauschlidt said she also leans toward supporting McCain. She shrugged off concerns that the senator’s support for the war would hurt his presidential chances. “Everything’s pretty unpopular among the general public,” she said.

McCain found himself swarmed by supporters and photographers as he made his way back to the bus with his wife, Cindy. Although many states plan to push up their primary dates to Feb. 5, he promised to stay focused on the Granite State with frequent visits over the next year and a half.

The 2008 N.H. primary date has not yet been decided. The 2004 N.H. primary was held on Jan. 27.