You can learn a lot about the state of a campaign from its rope lines, and about the style of the person running. There is a giddy celebrity vibe on the Obama rope lines, with the candidate darting along. He is less of a hugger or a hand-shaker than he is a finger-pincher, spreading memories in half-second increments — about 20 voter touches per 30 seconds, on average. He rarely stops for autographs (his aides collect items and Mr. Obama later signs them for the aides to return).

He hugged me, fools.

[NYT]