Police: man asked for cigarettes, Pepsi, alcohol

ROCHESTER, N.H. -- Police negotiators say the man who took some of Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign staffers hostage this afternoon in Rochester wanted to talk to Sen. Clinton.

But even though Clinton, who was in Washington, offered to help, negotiators decided not to allow the two to talk because that would have reduced their negotiating power.

Police say there were four adults and a baby in the office when Leeland Eisenberg walked in and said he had a bomb. Three of the adults are Clinton staffers and the other is a volunteer.

Police say Eisenberg immediately allowed the mother and baby to leave.

Negotiators talked by telephone, slowly gaining his confidence throughout the five-hour standoff. They say at times he asked for cigarettes, Pepsi and alcohol. They say they got him the cigarettes.

One hostage escaped a few hours later and police negotiated the release of the final two.

Eisenberg surrendered a few minutes later.

Eisenberg is being held at Rochester Police Department tonight on kidnapping and other charges.

(Copyright (c) 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)