CONWAY – If it's not tough enough that New Hampshire voters only have a few more days to decide which presidential contender they'll support, three cool cats are entering the fray in their own primary contest on Tuesday.

Marty, Sarah and Wilson are vying for the top cat position atop Mount Washington, which has been feline-less for the past week, following the retirement of Nin. The Observatory cat spent more than a dozen years on mouse patrol at the 6,288-foot summit.

Fueled by astonishing response to a Christmas news story about Nin's retirement, the first-in-the-nation feline primary gives cat lovers a chance to choose the cat they think will do the best job on the Northeast's highest peak, home of the world's worst weather.

"We are all astonished at how the story snowballed," said Scot Henley, executive director of the Mount Washington Observatory. "Observatory members have sent us newspaper clippings from a variety of places around the country where the story appeared -- California, Arizona, Washington, Virginia -- virtually everywhere. I personally saw a photo of Nin on the cable news channel at the Philadelphia airport while I was traveling for the holidays. I was dumbfounded."

When the decision was made to bring Nin, who is pushing 17 or 18, down from the mountain for health reasons, the Conway Humane Society began evaluating some of its resident kitties to follow in the paws of Nin.

"The three cats have the right personalities to live at the Observatory during the quiet of winter and the craziness of the summer tourist season," Henley said.

Their political futures now rest in the mouse of the voters, who can cast their votes online throughout the day Tuesday.

MARTY

WILSON

►Click here to learn more about the top cat candidates.

SARAH

"All three contenders have great hair, attend church, hold law degrees, value values, tout affordable vet care, and oppose recreational drug use, unless it is catnip," reads their biographical information. "All three claim to have been raised by poor, humble yam-farmers who worked their tails off just to put Meow Mix on the table. However, that claim has yet to be confirmed."

The platforms of the cat candidates can be found on the Observatory Web site -- www.mountwashington.org.

Marty, a dark, silky 2-year-old, promises "free cheeseburgers and fish heads for everyone," according to the feline primary page. " A uniter and not a divider, this hard-luck kid is a steadfast optimist who loves to have his tummy rubbed."

Sarah, the only female feline, vows "change, hope, more change and a chicken in every bowl." At a year old, Sarah is curious and loves to meow, when not checking on the whereabouts of her tail and the condition of her litter box.

"This has prompted critics to question whether she can take the sleet," says her political statement.

To which she has responded, "I am woman. Hear me meow."

Wilson, the final kitty contender and the youngest of the trio, is a changed cat following the adoption of his brother, whom he had been with since birth 10 months ago.

"Emerging from his brother's shadow, this former shy-guy is clearly becoming more comfortable commanding center stage," his campaign blurb says. "Well-liked by his peers in the shelter's community cat-room, Wilson plays well with others and cuddles nicely on laps."

The orange-and-white tabby has been an indoor-only cat in the first of his nine lives, a point his critics say could give him a snowball's chance atop such a foreboding place as Mount Washington.

"Leave no mouse behind," is his reply to just about everything.

Located in an enormous, concrete weather-resistant building high above New Hampshire, the observatory is staffed by crews who spend alternating weeks on the mountain. Cats provide comfort in the cold and, as the staff has seen in the past weeks, engender all kind of curiosity.

"We have received over 70 e-mails and dozens of calls from people around the country looking to donate new cats," Henley said. "While we couldn't possibly accept those donations, we wanted to give the public a chance to help pick our new mascot."

The story of Nin has prompted people to renew their memberships and others to join in his name.

"One donor in Maine offered to pay to pay for Nin's future medical care," Henley said.

Nin retired to the Gorham home of Mount Washington State Park rangers Diane Holmes and Mike Pelchat. Henley reports that Nin, who lost his last few teeth to an infection, is feeling much better and is doing well.

Polls open Tuesday for the Mount Washington Mascot Primary at 8 a.m. sharp at www.mountwashington.org. Voting runs until 7 p.m. The new top cat will be announced Wednesday morning.