Huckabee seeks that spark in New Hampshire

By James W. Pindell, Globe Correspondent

NASHUA -- Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee wrapped up a four-day visit to New Hampshire today, in the midst of what might be his last, best shot to become a real contender for the Republican presidential nomination.

For the past year Huckabee has been charming audiences in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina with his jokes, down-home personality and resume. Unfortunately for him, all he got for his efforts were poor fund-raising and poll results placing him firmly in the bottom tier of candidates. His fortunes changed on Aug. 11 when he beat expectations and pulled off a second-place finish in the Iowa straw poll. But now the question is whether he can capitalize on the buzz and become the conservative alternative to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

"The next 45 days are going to be pretty important to see if Huckabee will become one of the top-tier candidates or just not a credible choice," said Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta, a Republican. "But it is pretty apparent that people are willing to give him a second look."

If crowd sizes are any indication, many took the opportunity over the weekend to give him a second look with nearly 100 to 150 people coming out to see him at several stops, which is about twice to three times what he normally sees.

Huckabee told reporters today that his success in Ames "changed the whole process for us."

"Up until now the national media has sort of dubbed three people or so to say these people are in the top tier. Now what made them in the top tier? Money. It wasn't their message because when Republicans were polled they said they really aren't satisfied with any of the candidates," Huckabee said. "A recent poll showed that these voters actually preferred 'none of the above' to any of their choices. And now they are finding out that the 'none of the above' is Mike Huckabee."

But he still must do better in the polls and in fund-raising to keep the momentum going, said Charlie Arlinghaus, a former New Hampshire Republican strategist and currently the head of a conservative think tank in Concord.

"In Huckabee's case it think there is a great deal of being in the right place at the right time," Arlinghaus said. "There is a big segment of the party that wants a candidate who can articulately -- and in a nice way -- share the conservative vision. He can do this in ways no major candidate is right now, he had a good showing in Iowa, but if he can't sustain this over the next few weeks someone else could fill that void."