“Well there ya go, he does it every four years,” Senator Barack Obama joked when he was asked about Ralph Nader’s foray into the 2008 presidential campaign at an Ohio press availability.

Yesterday, when it was rumored Nader would soon throw his hat in the ring, Obama called his past efforts to help consumers “heroic,” but also noted the spoiler candidate “is somebody who if you’re - don’t listen and adopt all of his policies, thinks you’re not substantive. He seems to have a pretty high opinion of his his own work,” Obama told reporters in Columbus, OH.

On Meet the Press earlier today, Mr. Nader called Mr. Obama a liberal evangelist and criticized his position on the Israeli Palestinian issue. Obama responded, “I think his view is if, unless it’s Ralph Nader, that you’re not tough enough. I mean that’s been his view.  He thought that there was no difference between Al Gore and George Bush, and eight years later, I think people realize that Ralph did not know what he was talking about, and so, I mean honestly I’m, at this point, obviously much more concerned with winning the Democratic primary than I am to responding to those issues.”

Obama then knocked Nader’s run, saying, “His function as a perennial presidential candidate I don’t think is helping put food on the table or deal with the issues that are so important to a lot of working families.”

Senator Barack Obama, whatever you call him, is not a frontrunner. So he told the press today. Despite his handy Iowa victory and his high poll numbers here in the Granite State, Obama rejected that title when asked by reporters today if he’d consider himself the frontrunner should he win today’s NH primary. “My name is Barack Obama. I am never a frontrunner. I am always the underdog,” he answered.

But, he assured local news reporters, he is not “nervous” about today’s primary. He downplayed that a New Hampshire victory would propel him to the nomination, pointing out there are still 48 states to go after New Hampshire. His wife, Michelle, who introduced him at a Dartmouth rally this morning was more forthcoming, announcing, “Today we can do something amazing. We can elect my husband. We can push him further down the path to become the party’s nominee.”

Obama was also asked by the press about Bill Clinton’s comment that the Obama campaign is a “fairy tale.” Standing in a Dunkin Donuts store during an “OTR” stop, the candidate responded, “I understand they’re frustrated right now. I suspect that they’ll both try to get back on track in terms of the strategy for them to do better than they feel they’re doing right now.”

He then purchased two dozen donuts and some coffee to distribute to sign-weilding volunteers outside a Manchester area polling place. Obama extended the sustenance not just to his supporters, but to those of his opponents and from that other party, telling them, “The fact that all of you are involved and volunteering like this is really important. It’s what our democracy is about. So I want to give all of you a big round of applause.” The crowd cheered and Obama added, “Obviously I’ve got to especially thank my supporters.”

Obama held one rally this morning on the campus of Dartmouth College. He apologized to the sleepy students for the early start and admitted he wasn’t a “morning person.” He spoke of hope and change and told the students, “This is your moment.” Here are some of his remarks:

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The Dartmouth event was a little longer than expected when a supporter in the crowd fainted. It took nearly 15 minutes to get her out of the room on a gurney. As the girl was tended to, Senator Obama stood at the edge of the stage, peering silently out at the crowd with obvious concern. He offered his water and assured the crowd that she looked fine and would likely just be embarrassed. Actor and producer Larry David (from Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld), who was watching the senator from the press area yelled out, “Frank Sinatra used to make them faint like that,” to which Obama responded, “That’s exactly right, Larry.” The student was treated and released from an area hospital.

Obama spent much of the rest of his day with his wife, holed up at his Nashua hotel. The campaign would not provide details on how he’s biding his time before his rally tonight at Nashua’s South High School, but was sure to tell the traveling press about the doings of the Obama for America New Hampshire office. Over the past four days, the campaign knocked on close to 230,000 doors and made some 210,000 phone calls, garnering over 22,000 new supporters.