PORTSMOUTH, NH -- When Greg Majors stood up, unsteady and shaking, to ask John McCain a question at an environmental and energy issues forum put on by the publishers of the Portsmouth Herald, no one expected anything but an ordinary question. But in a town hall meeting, nothing can be taken for granted.

"I'm considering what good is it for me to be here alive, because I'm taking up valuable space," Majors said. With his care-giver by his side, steadying his balance, Majors told McCain that he had been in a motorcycle accident twenty two years ago, and that he has trouble speaking and even standing up. "I have difficulty doing anything. I'm standing here with this guy holding me up," he said.

"I don't see any point in continuing because it's difficult for everyone else to partially support me and then it's pointless to sit here and use their resources," Majors continued. "I hope that you will never give up your hope and your faith," McCain responded as he walked over to Majors.

The town hall meeting can be intensely personal. In front of hundreds of people, many freely discuss their most intimate problems. Later that evening, a woman told McCain that her husband, a wounded veteran, couldn't find a job. The previous day, an Alzheimer's advocate, who also suffered from the disease, asked what McCain would do for funding. McCain frequently hears from widows and mothers of soldiers who had died, or with people who lose their health care or can't afford their prescription drugs.

But how should a candidate -- how should anyone -- deal with someone who has just expressed a lack of will to go on living? "I know that there are loving family members and loving neighbors and friends who want to do everything they can to help you live as long and as beautiful life as possible. And we pray for you and cherish you," McCain said.

Later, to reporters, McCain reflected on some of the more powerful moments of the campaign. "Here we are at a town hall meeting on climate change, and this young man says that he doesn't think he ought to continue to take up space and consume energy, and he should basically not be a burden on his family anymore," McCain recalled, clearly shaken. "I was astonished and deeply moved by his comments." After the forum, McCain talked to Majors and his care-giver. Majors left the town hall meeting with a copy of McCain's book, "Faith of My Fathers," under his arm.

Asked how to deal with such an intense moment, McCain professed that his effort was ineloquent and less than perfect. "You just do the best you can," he said.