That left McCain contesting Obama for independents and Romney for Republicans as he worked to climb back into the race after his campaign nearly imploded last summer. At the time, he was struggling to defend the Iraq war, unpopular with independents, and linked to an immigration position that drove away conservatives. In the months since, he has worked to take the edge off the immigration issue, and the war has receded as a campaign concern as U.S. casualties have declined.

Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, flipped pancakes Monday in a state known for its maple syrup and struck a tone that was both populist and conservative.

"There's a great need in this country to elect someone who reminds them of the guy they work with, not the guy who laid them off," he said in a pitch aimed at independent voters. Speaking to conservatives, he added, "I have also heard folks say people in New Hampshire don't care about issues like family and the sanctity of life. I'd beg to differ."

He finished first in the Iowa caucuses last week on the strength of support from evangelical conservatives, but Tuesday's today's primary appears to offer far less prospect of success.

With the two parties still picking their candidates for the fall, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg participated in a meeting devoted to bipartisanship, stirring renewed speculation that he will run as an independent.

"People have stopped working together, government is dysfunctional, there's no collaborating and congeniality," said the mayor, who has said several times he does not intend to seek the White House.

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Contributing: Charles Babington, Beth Fouhy, Sara Kugler, Jim Kuhnhenn, Nedra Pickler, Libby Quaid, Beverley Wang and Glen Johnson