He was in touch with Granite State political players regularly in the first half of 2009, but the calls dried up months ago.

“I haven’t heard from him since August. Nobody’s heard from him since then,” said one prominent GOP strategist who has yet to commit to a 2012 campaign but played a leading role in New Hampshire’s 2000 and 2008 GOP primaries. “I would love to work for him, but I’m convinced he’s not running.”…

He raised some eyebrows by agreeing to a radio interview with a Concord, N.H.-based station last week, an appearance widely reported in Washington as evidence of a likely candidacy, but one that baffled local Republican strategists.

“It’s a tiny, tiny station. Anyone who’s serious about running, there’s usually a rhyme or reason, and wouldn’t do something like that,” said another local Republican operative who hasn’t yet committed to a 2012 campaign.