LACONIA — Voters in New Hampshire can choose between a “Massachusetts moderate” with no experience changing Washington or a Ronald Reagan conservative who has been there and changed that, Newt Gingrich told those attending a Town Hall-style meeting, here, Wednesday.

The former House Speaker, who came to New Hampshire after placing fourth Tuesday in the Iowa caucuses with 13 percent of the vote, sought to articulate the differences between himself and others seeking the Republican nomination, including the frontrunner, Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts.

“I am much more electable than Romney,” Gingrich asserted. “I can go on the same stage as Obama and debate him with practicality and purpose,” he said claiming he was the most effective conservative speaker in the House in decades.

“I think that only happens if you help me win the nomination,” Gingrich said.

About 150 came to the historic Belknap Mill to hear Gingrich and some had not yet made up their minds on who they will vote for next week.

Mike Brooker of Moultonborough was not one of them.

“I’ve liked him from the start,” said Brooker of Gingrich. “I look forward to seeing him debate Obama.”

Margo Weeks of Gilford was not so sure. After hearing Gingrich’s remarks, which focused primarily on economic issues and his experience enacting both the wishes of President Ronald Reagan, followed by his Contract With America, Weeks concedes Gingrich might be the better debater against President Barack Obama, but Romney might make the better President.

“He’s been in Washington too long,” she said of Gingrich. The kind of experience she is looking for is someone who has a business perspective and job-creation track record. While Gingrich was her second, Romney is her choice.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul was the subject of a Gingrich jab during the question and answer session when one woman asked how near he thinks we are to war with Iran.

“It’s simply inconceivable to be passive about the Iranians getting a nuclear weapon,” he said. “This is where I deeply differ from Ron Paul.

“If someone is willing to put on a bomb, go in a restaurant...and kill themselves with it, why don’t you think they would be thrilled to strap on a nuclear weapon?” he said.

A nuclear catastrophe would lead to Draconian security efforts and forever change the world, he said.

“Our goal should be to replace the current dictatorship,” he said.

“With methodologically increased diplomatic pressure they would break,” he said.

Gingrich said it is possible to have bipartisan government that works and pointed to his own experience as House Speaker between 1995 and 1999.

“I want smaller government and going back to the Constitution,” he said. “But I have to listen to you to get the path.”