DURHAM – In the long line of supporters waving signs for their chosen candidate and chanting furiously outside the University of New Hampshire's Whittemore Center, Fred Thompson's crew, all two of them, seemed to be the only ones who weren't bothered by the former senator and actor's decision to skip the primary.

Thompson would be bashed whether he came to Durham last night or not, said Steven Smith, of Charlestown, who along with his wife, Adele, constituted the entire Thompson party yesterday.

"If Fred was here, then tomorrow we'd be reading (in the newspapers) about 'Fred caves to media pressure,'" he said.

Both Smiths said they saw Thompson on his previous visit to New Hampshire and are convinced he'll be able to win voters over when he does make it to the Granite State. The issues of last night's debate will fade as it becomes obvious that Thompson has the power to persuade the general public, Smith said.

"The real issue is about who will be able to convince people who don't agree with (the Republican Party,)" he said.

Most people were not so easy on Thompson. State Republican Party chairman Fergus Cullen, who in an opening statement before last night's debate praised the eight candidates who showed up, said it was a major mistake for Thompson not to show.

Cullen said Thompson timed the announcement that he would run specifically so he would not participate in last night's debate.

"His absence did not go unnoticed," Cullen said. "I think New Hampshire voters will notice he went on Leno to trade jokes instead of coming here to answer substantive questions."

University of New Hampshire's associate professor of political science Dante Scala, said after the debate that a lack of presence by Thompson at the debate is troubling to those tuned into politics, some of whom already question his campaign strategies.

"The fact he wasn't here will continue to fuel skepticism," he said. "This isn't the kind of state where you can drop in and everyone kowtows to you."

Scala said Thompson should probably spend some quality time with New Hampshire voters.

"They'll give him a good look over, but he's got to be here to be looked at," Scala said.

Cullen agreed, saying it's not enough for Thompson to just run ads and appear on national talk shows if he wants to make headway in New Hampshire.

"Those who try to run an untraditional campaign here do so at their own peril," he said, explaining why he made a point to praise the other candidates who showed up, telling them the campaign is about more than short television ads. "I felt it was part of my responsibility to say they're doing it right."

Debate attendee Roy Shoults Sr., of Manchester said he personally didn't care if Thompson showed up.

"There's no problem with me, I'm not going to vote for him anyway," he said. "But he's in a race and still in the starting block, while (the other candidates) are halfway around the track."

University of New Hampshire student Danielle Dyer, 18, who also attended the debate, said she thought Thompson should have appeared if he is serious about running.

"I think he should be here because it's his responsibility," she said. "This is a big deal and he should really be here."

Correspondent Clynton Namuo contributed to this report.