The Saga of Steve

Nashua, N.H.

‘He’s much better looking in person,” volunteers a waitress at the Nashua Marriott, where Steve Forbes is staying. She is looking at a Forbes ad on the TV hanging above the hotel’s Sunday-morning breakfast crowd. Indeed, Forbes isn’t a candidate ideally suited to TV, but up close and in person he projects an appealing sincerity and resilience. Following his strong second-place finish in Iowa, Forbes arrived here fighting to emerge as the conservative challenger who would—with a little help from John McCain—disrupt the tide of inevitability carrying George W. Bush to the nomination. McCain’s victory will breathe some life into that scenario, and Forbes will pivot to take on him, too, as the candidates head to South Carolina and Arizona. Forbes will continue to assail his opponents as the “timid twins” on tax cuts.

Nashua, N.H.

‘He’s much better looking in person,” volunteers a waitress at the Nashua Marriott, where Steve Forbes is staying. She is looking at a Forbes ad on the TV hanging above the hotel’s Sunday-morning breakfast crowd. Indeed, Forbes isn’t a candidate ideally suited to TV, but up close and in person he projects an appealing sincerity and resilience. Following his strong second-place finish in Iowa, Forbes arrived here fighting to emerge as the conservative challenger who would—with a little help from John McCain—disrupt the tide of inevitability carrying George W. Bush to the nomination. McCain’s victory will breathe some life into that scenario, and Forbes will pivot to take on him, too, as the candidates head to South Carolina and Arizona. Forbes will continue to assail his opponents as the “timid twins” on tax cuts.