CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Long lines at some New Hampshire polling places that opened early suggested that the predicted heavy turnout for Tuesday's election is happening.

In Manchester, where officials said they expected turnout to exceed the 94 percent in the last presidential election, machinist Nicholas Diaz said he had never seen so many people show up to vote early at Ward 2.

Diaz, 44, was the first of about 100 people waiting to vote when the polls opened at 6 a.m. He said he trusts both presidential candidates to do what they're asked to do to help the economy, but said he voted for Republican John McCain.

Small-business owner Robert Tubbs, 52, chose Democrat Barack Obama, who would be the first black president.

"It's easily the proudest vote I ever made," he said.

"It's huge. It opens up this country for everyone."

McCain, whose presidential hopes were resurrected in the 2000 and 2008 New Hampshire presidential primaries, was hoping that Tuesday would be a replay of this year's primary: a upset victory for him and a painful and unexpected defeat for Obama.

McCain sounded more like a lovesick teenager than a 72-year-old presidential candidate last month when he told a New Hampshire audience, "I love you. ... I'm asking you to come out one more time."

Obama, meanwhile, has been warning against overconfidence, citing his New Hampshire primary loss to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in January despite polls showing him with a solid lead.

"For those who are getting a little cocky, I've got two words for you: New Hampshire," he said last month.

Excitement over the presidential race somewhat overshadowed the state's other races, including the bitter rematch between Republican Sen. John Sununu and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. Sununu portrays the former governor as a "taxing machine" in one ad; she portrays him as President Bush's equally-evil twin.

Six years ago, when Bush was still popular, Sununu defeated Shaheen by 4 percentage points. This time around, Shaheen had the twin advantages of Obama's coattails and demographic shifts that have boosted Democrats. A recent study by the University of New Hampshire estimated that about one-quarter of the electorate has changed since 2002, with both young voters and newcomers to the state more likely to identify themselves as Democrats.

On the issues, Shaheen, 61, of Madbury, has pushed for making health care more accessible and affordable, ending the war in Iraq and promoting alternative energy. But she focused much of her energy on trying to link Sununu to the unpopular president.

Sununu, 44, of Waterville Valley, has cast himself as a leader on the housing crisis, the economy and the environment who has stood up to his party when necessary to protect taxpayers and civil liberties.

In the 1st Congressional District, first-term Democrat Shea-Porter was in a rematch with former Rep. Jeb Bradley, the Republican she defeated in 2006. The Iraq war was the top issue that year, and the nationwide wave of anti-Republican sentiment helped carry Shea-Porter's low-budget, grass-roots campaign to victory.

This year, the two have sparred over how to bolster the economy, fix the lending crisis and control federal budget deficits.

Bradley, 56, of Wolfeboro, has criticized Shea-Porter for voting to reverse Bush's tax cuts for upper income Americans and says any tax increase during tough economic times will further slow the economy. Shea-Porter, 55, of Rochester, favors cutting taxes for small businesses and the middle class, while eliminating tax breaks for big corporations.

In the 2nd Congressional District, first-term Democrat Paul Hodes faced political newcomer Jennifer Horn, a Republican who argued that smaller government and lower taxes are the key to economic health. Though she has worked in the health insurance and media industries, Horn, 44, of Nashua, said raising five children has provided her with all the experience she needs to understand the problems facing the nation.

Hodes, 57, of Concord, pointed to examples of how he has not only understood but solved some of those problems. He counts as his major achievements creating a commission to steer economic development and federal funding to northern New Hampshire, and Michelle's Law, which guarantees that sick college students won't lose their health insurance if they leave school to seek treatment.

In the quietest major race, both Democratic Gov. John Lynch and his Republican challenger, state Sen. Joe Kenney, pitched themselves as the best one to steer the state through tough economic times over the next two years.

Lynch, 55, of Hopkinton, points to his two terms as proof of his ability to manage state finances without an income or sales tax, and says the budget cuts he has made already show voters that he will make more as needed to keep the budget balanced.

Kenney, 48, of Wakefield, argues that Lynch has led the state on a spending spree that will transform frugal New Hampshire and force enactment of an income or sales tax. But voters either haven't heard Kenney's argument or aren't buying it: polls showed Lynch far ahead.

Libertarian candidates are on the ballot in all the top races, and independent Ralph Nader was on the presidential ballot.