Buoyed by a win at the Iowa caucus, Mike Huckabee set out yesterday to prove to a gymnasium full of die-hard supporters, newly curious independents and screaming Chuck Norris fans that he's the most fun candidate.

"We sometimes need to remind people that those of us who are Republicans have as much fun as anybody," Huckabee said before slinging a bass guitar over his shoulder and launching into "In the Midnight Hour" with Manchester band Mama Kicks. "And today we're going to prove it!"

The event, at Henniker's New England College, was classic Huckabee: one part jam session, one part stump speech. The former Arkansas governor, who plays in his own rock band, brought along his most famous supporter: kung-fu cult hero Chuck Norris, who drew a rowdy gaggle of teenagers.

After playing three songs with Mama Kicks, which warmed up the crowd of about 400 for nearly an hour, Huckabee delivered a wide-ranging speech that hit on familiar themes: secure borders, energy independence, a strong military, prevention-based health care. He also cited the "wind of change." He said the campaign is about message, not money, and the election is not about "me" but about "we."

"This coming Tuesday, you have an opportunity to take a stand and, I hope, send a message to the rest of America that there's a fresh, new wind blowing in this country," Huckabee said.

"I think it's a great opportunity . . . over the next five days . . . to prove that in New Hampshire, it's not just about how much money a candidate has raised," added Huckabee, who's fundraising has lagged behind his rivals'. "It's what kind of future and ideas are going to be raised for the next generation."

Huckabee also took the chance to denounce recent negative campaigning among Republicans.

"If any of us have a great responsibility when we run for office, its not to say, 'Hey look over there, let me tell you what's wrong with the guy running against me,' " he said. "It's to first of all, say, 'There's some things right with this nation, but there are some things we could do better.' "

He went on to address one of the criticisms of his campaign that's emerged since he won in Iowa, where much of his support came from Christian evangelicals, a group that's small in New Hampshire.

"I've been listening to the television pundits who said, 'Well Huckabee did well in Iowa but he won't do that well in New Hampshire,' " Huckabee said. "Well, why not? . . . I pledge to you that if you give me the opportunity to be president, I'll not just remember who you are but I'll remember where I came from because I probably came from the same place some of you did. I think one of the reasons I did well in Iowa and I'll do well here is because people realize that they really do want a president who reminds them of the guy they work with, not the guy that laid them off. And quite frankly, I understand struggle."

Huckabee, a former Baptist preacher whose socially conservative message is mixed with populist ideals, soundly defeated rival and former businessman Mitt Romney in Iowa. In his victory speech, Huckabee talked about using his deep convictions to push the country toward its "greatest days ever."

His come-from-nowhere triumph seems to have caused some New Hampshire voters to take a second - or better yet, first - look at Huckabee. Chris and Roger Berger of Lyme are John McCain supporters who have the lawn sign to prove it. But when they heard Huckabee was in town, the couple, who are anti-gun evangelical Christians who spent time in the Peace Corps, went to check him out.

"Since he won last night, we thought, 'Well, maybe we'll be some of those cowards who didn't choose to back (Huckabee) before' " because we thought he couldn't win, said Chris Berger, who had also attended a Barack Obama event hours earlier. "This last push is a good time to check him out."

Kathy Otten of Hillsboro also came from an Obama event to see Huckabee. Otten is a Democrat originally from North Carolina who favors John Edwards. But she said she was impressed by Obama's and Huckabee's post-caucus victory speeches and wanted to get up-close looks at the candidates.

"You can't just go with what your comfort zone is; I feel it's your duty to be as informed as you can," said Otten, who admitted that Huckabee's politics are a little too conservative for her taste. "I think I'll vote Democrat, but I'd be very tempted to vote for (Huckabee) because of the kind of character he has."

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