SOMERSWORTH – Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called for an increase in the size of the U.S. military, including the deployment of 10,000 more American troops in Afghanistan, during a campaign stop yesterday at the Gateway Family Restaurant.

While many Republican presidential contenders were slogging away in Iowa just a day before to the caucuses, Giuliani campaigned in New Hampshire, continuing a strategy of shying away from the Hawkeye State, concentrating his efforts in other early voting states, notably Florida.

In a speech to about 40 possible supporters, Giuliani continued to focus on military preparedness amid the ongoing War on Terror in what has been an extension of his campaign's cornerstone: his widely praised leadership following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"People can get lulled into a false sense of confidence that nothing's going to happen," he said, reminding people of how the War on Terror's dynamics differs from conventional conflicts and that the terrorist threat continues to be real.

Giuliani even brought former FBI Director Louis Freeh with him yesterday to strengthen his tough-on-terrorism stance, though Freeh did not speak. The two men previously worked together in the U.S. Attorney's office, Giuliani said.

To deal with the continuing threat of terrorism, Giuliani said the military must recruit more soldiers, including 10 additional combat brigades for the Army. He said the Navy should have at least 300 ships and the Marines must have at least 200,000 troops.

Giuliani also told reporters in a separate press conference that there must be a "surge" of 10,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, effectively doubling the U.S. led contingent there, in order to better fight terrorism in the surrounding region, including Pakistan, and also support efforts to catch terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.

"Bin Laden is a charismatic leader," Giuliani said, noting his detention would be a strategic victory for the U.S. "He's charismatic for horrible reasons and horrible purposes."

New Hampshire voters came for many different reasons: healthcare, the war on terror, and education, among others. Most, however, had one thing in common: They were undecided.

Margaret Franz, a Rochester retiree, stopped by after eating at the Gateway and learning Giuliani would be coming soon. She said she was looking for a "leader with wisdom and the courage to use it. I was impressed by him," she said of Giuliani following his speech. "I was impressed by the way he talks about the war."

Gloria and Roger Miller, a Somersworth couple, both said they were still looking.

"I'd like to see prayer back in the schools," Gloria Miller said, noting that although she was impressed following Giuliani's speech, she was "still looking for the values."

Roger Miller, the owner of ADS Inc., said he wants a military hardliner as president who will take a strong stance in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I'm looking for a warrior," he said, pointing out that Giuliani made some good points in his speech. Still Miller was undecided.

After keeping the audience waiting for an hour yesterday, Giuliani spoke for 20 minutes, including a brief question and answer portion. Giuliani then held a crowded press conference, also for about 20 minutes, where he answered reporters' questions, sans members of the public.

Two recent polls, one conducted by the University of New Hampshire released yesterday and the other done by Suffolk University in Boston and released Tuesday, both showed Giuliani a distant third behind frontrunners Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.