He is a strange mixture of Americana. Speaking in a slow, relaxed voice which retains a Dakota twang, George McGovern reflects a traditional homespun, hearthside American culture. At the same time, he is a hard realist about big business and military involvement abroad.

Always a humanist, McGovern proclaims. "This land of ours, this people of ours must see that we have been taught to view ourselves as competitors, and we have come to see our fellow humans in that spirit....We have lost compassion." But never forgetting the reality of politics, he translates this humanism into broad and practical programs of tax reform.

He doesn't look like a politician. Tall, lanky, slightly balding, with deeply lined features, McGovern hardly exudes glamour. Unaggressive and mild, he lacks the driving athletic power of a Lindsay, the magnetic, sophisticated political savoir-faire of a Kennedy and the intellectual passion of a McCarthy.

Yet McGovern is full of commitment and sincerity. His voting record is staunchly and consistently liberal; and his vigorous and early announced campaign reflects a deep concern about issues rather than polls.

As his car races along to a late night radio broadcast, McGovern--sprawled in a corner of the backseat--tells us about what he has to offer the voters of New Hampshire over Edmund Muskie: "I don't wait for consensus on an issue before I take a stand...I haven't waited for neglect to take such a heavy toll in Indochina. It was only after the polls showed that 75 per cent of the nation wanted to end the war, that Muskie came out against it...You can't wait for a popular consensus on an issue to make up your mind on it."

Yet it is ironic that McGovern, who is so disdainful of pollwatching candidates, is faced with a highly unfavorable showing on national polls which give him about 6 per cent of national support. Perhaps it is this poor showing which leads him to concentrate so heavily on the youth vote--which will add some 25 million voices to the electorate. His is no optimistic "happy Hubey" attitude in predicting the outcome of the youth vote: "I am disappointed. I thought there would be a great rush to register. There hasn't been. I am still hopeful though that as the campaign continues, more will register. If they don't, they will lose my sympathy in their protests. The youth have the power to select the next president and show how deeply they care."

The McGovern campaign organization--especially in the Boston area--has made vigorous efforts to organize the youth vote. Last Saturday, he held a press conference for Massachusetts schools ranging from community Colleges, to state universities, to Ivy League institutions. And last week a vigorous Harvard "McGovern for President" organization canvassed about 1000 Harvard students, organized a rally for McGovern at the Law Forum Speech, and pushed buttons and fliers at the auditorium.

Far from relying totally on the youth constituency, McGovern emphasizes. "The strongest thing about our campaign is that we are building a good grass roots organization in the primary states." The major thrust of the McGovern organization is aimed at three primaries: New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Massachusetts. Pessimistic about his first battle with Muskie in the New Hampshire primary, the western Senator looks forward to victory in his home territory--Wisconsin.

He is also confident about the Massachusetts primary especially in view of the promised absence of the ever popular Teddy Kennedy.

Question: Will you ever support Teddy Kennedy?

McGovern: No.

Q: Never?

McG: No.

Q: Can we really believe Teddy Kennedy won't run for president?

McG: I confer with him all the time and I think he can be trusted when he says he is not going to run.