Manchester – Even on an icy cold morning, seeing Uncle Sam juggling balls on a downtown sidewalk didn't look out of place.

No, the circus wasn't in town -- and the juggler-for-hire wasn't even connected to the Republican State Committee's annual meeting, which drew White House wannabees ranging from the well known to the unknown.

"Watching the show and giving them a little bit of a show," said juggler Mike Kenney, who was trying to drum up business for Liberty Tax Service rather than make any political statement.

Center stage yesterday certainly was the Palace Theatre, where former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani wooed the hearts and minds of 600 people -- including 400 delegates -- who are key party influence peddlers.

The Granite State nearly picked up its newest resident: Giuliani's wife, Judith, after they spent time in the North Country over the weekend.

"I'm afraid that she's not going to come home with me. She's going to stay up here and ski," he said in his 30-minute address.

Good news certainly for the ski industry suffering through a seasonal snow drought.

Leaving the Palace Theatre after his address, Guiliani was enamored with the giant snowflakes, some of which landed on his blue suit but didn't immediately melt.

"It makes it feel like winter. It's so beautiful," he told a crush of reporters and camera operators.

Besides delivering the weather report, he gave no timetable for making a final decision on running for President.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani delivers the keynote address to the delegates at yesterday's New Hampshire Republican Party annual meeting. (BOB LAPREE)

Giuliani didn't have the GOP activists to himself. Two candidates who recently announced forming Presidential exploratory committees -- Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore -- offered a free lunch to delegates once the Republican meeting adjourned. Sen. John McCain's supporters advertised their own luncheon.

Linda Rutter of Derry, a guest at the meeting, said Giuliani impressed her and she hoped to meet McCain at the luncheon at the Merrimack Restaurant, only to be disappointed to learn he was out of the country.

"I'm not flying to Switzerland and I don't think he's flying here," Rutter said.

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. sang the praises of McCain at the luncheon. He also told reporters that the Western states will make "more and more of an attempt to band together and to be seen as relevant players early on in the Presidential selection process."

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It remains to be seen whether Nevada or New Hampshire will follow Iowa's leadoff caucus.

There may be no free lunch in politics -- and yesterday's bounty was delayed about two hours because of the meeting's slower-than-expected pace.

That left Tancredo killing time at his Bedford hotel, then posing for pictures with supporters in his nearly empty meeting room at the Chateau Restaurant, leaving him feeling like a hostage to the meeting.

"Maybe should have done the breakfast instead of after -- whatever you call this now? -- pre-supper," he said.

Executive Councilor Ray Wieczorek went to Gilmore's lunch at A Taste of Europe restaurant.

"If he's going to speak, I'm going to listen," said Wieczorek, who's uncommitted. "I'm not going to be a hit-and-run artist" at the buffet, which one Gilmore aide noted was loaded "with a lot of carbs."

Newcomers come out

Making new friends was the name of the game yesterday, especially for the newcomer candidates.

"This is my opportunity to come up and do some retail politics and meet the Republican representatives in Manchester and spread the word on what kind of person I am," said Gilmore, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

New Hampshire often sides with the underdog and treats front-runners unkindly at times.

"If anyone thought about running for President, this is the time to do it," said Manchester pollster Dick Bennett. "Lightning might hit. You might win Powerball."

"If you don't buy the ticket, you can't win. If you're not in the race, you're not going to be the nominee," Bennett said.

"There's probably 90 percent of the state who has no idea who they're going to vote for on either side," Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta said.

"It's kind of the kickoff of the Presidential season," added party Vice Chairman Wayne MacDonald.

Next weekend, New Hampshire will host the first visit of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton since she announced she's in to win the White House in 2008. Giuliani hasn't crossed paths with his fellow New Yorker on the campaign trail.

"Probably could meet up with her in New Hampshire or Iowa," he said. "We all go to the same places."