By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer

CONCORD, N.H. - Not everybody loves a winner. Some save their passion for the underdog. The presidential candidate whose last name isn’t Clinton or Giuliani treks through early voting states like New Hampshire promoting ideas despite crushing poll numbers and sluggish fundraising. These contenders, nearly a dozen, soldier on with encouragement from small knots of supporters for whom their message generates a special resonance.

Strong backers of the more improbable candidates readily acknowledge their favorite stands zero chance of winning New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary or anything beyond.

“No, he doesn’t have a shot,” Democratic activist Ben Clifford said of Dennis Kucinich, the Ohio congressman who barely registers in polls in his second White House bid. “But every time he comes, it invigorates me. He talks about the issues that are most important.”

Clifford, who drives a car with a “No Bush” license plate and organizes young activists in Manchester, N.H., gets fired up by Kucinich, who opposed the Iraq war before it began and wants to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney.

Other candidates in the second tier inspire equal passion. Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo fires up his faithful with calls to fortify the U.S.-Mexican border. Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd focuses on a surge of diplomacy to restore the country’s international reputation. Sen. Joe Biden rallies Democrats with his foreign policy experience and expertise.

“For second-tier candidates, that’s the mantra: they are the idea candidates. They are in the race because they believe the issues they’re talking about and the ideas they have are not well-represented by the top-tier candidates,” said Mark Wrighton, who teaches politics at the University of New Hampshire.

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