ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: The weather could be a factor in the turnout for Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, where the latest polls show the races appear to be tightening. CNN's Jonathan Karl is covering the campaign of GOP presidential hopeful Senator John McCain, and he's running neck and neck with George W. Bush -- Jonathan.</s>JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right. It's down to the wire time here in New Hampshire for all the candidates, but especially for John McCain, who long ago wagered that his long-shot quest for the presidency could go from improbable long shot to real possibility with a victory here in New Hampshire. In the last few days of his campaign here, McCain is encouraged by polls that show him with a slight lead over Texas Governor George W. Bush. He's also encouraged by the crowds. More than 1,000 people turned out for the last New Hampshire town hall meeting of his campaign. He's held more than 100 town hall meetings over the past year. McCain says a victory will bring him -- bring the nation's attention to his campaign, lifting him to victory in the primary states that follow.</s>SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now here we are: 48 hours from about now the people of New Hampshire will be making a crucial decision that will affect the future of this country. And I need you again to go on one more mission. I need you to do that because without your help and your involvement in getting out our voters we're not going to win.</s>KARL: Stopping by a VFW post in the town of Franklin, McCain held a rally for veterans, who have long been some of his most reliable allies in his campaign. McCain is counting on those veterans to help him get turnout, especially given the possibility of bad weather in Tuesday's election. Now, there is a flip side to McCain's optimism about his prospects here in New Hampshire. McCain is counting on a big boost to bring victory in the primary states that follow. But if he loses, it could well be crisis time for the McCain campaign. Reporting live from Manchester, New Hampshire, this is Jonathan Karl.
Polls Show Races Tightening for Democratic and Republican New Hampshire Primary