Sen. John McCain, R-Az., arrived in New Hampshire todaty to campaign for President Bush throughout the state. Here he jokes with Kerry supporters at the Merrimack restaurant in Manchester. (© Chris Maddaloni/Roll Call Photos)

Monday, January 26—The Merrimack Restaurant in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire, is the place to be during the presidential primaries. All of the candidates and many supporters and news reporters visit here during the primary season to share coffee and politics.

A large crowd gathered today to see Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona. Senator McCain was visiting New Hampshire to support President George W. Bush.

This reporter asked Senator McCain if he thought we should be doing anything different in Iraq and why we have not captured Osama bin Laden yet.

"We need more troops in Iraq," Senator McCain told Scholastic News Online. "I don't know when we're going to catch Osama bin Laden because he's in a part of the country between Afghanistan and Pakistan that nobody controls, so it's going to be very hard to catch him."

Molly Wienberg interviewed Senator John McCain of Arizona about the war in Iraq and the hunt for Osama bin Laden. McCain was in New Hampshire to campaign for President George W. Bush's reelection. Click on the picture to read more about Molly. (Photo by Suzanne Freeman)

Congressman Jeb Bradley was traveling with Senator McCain, also on behalf of President Bush. Bradley said he felt it was important for Republicans to get out and vote to show their support for the President during the primaries, even though Bush does not have an opponent for the Republican nomination.

Manchester Mayor Bob Baines, a Democrat, was on hand to welcome Senator McCain to the state's largest city. The Mayor said he was happy that New Hampshire draws so much attention in the primaries every four years.

"The exposure is great for our city," he said. "I am thrilled to see how many people from both parties get excited and involved in politics."