CONCORD, N.H. - (UPI) - Sen. Barry Goldwater said Tuesday that if he were elected president he would openly support Cuban exiles in a second invasion of their Communist-dominated homeland and would be "inclined" to give them air cover.

He also said he was convinced that Russia would "release captive nations" rather than risk withdrawal of diplomatic recognition by the United States.

The Arizona conservative, making his first visit to New Hampshire since announcing his presidential candidacy, also said he had not lost any support since the assassination of President Kennedy.

"The picture hasn't changed," he said. "It's hard to sit out West in a hospital and judge how this anti-Goldwater sentiment is going and what effect it has. I'm convinced it's had little effect."

Goldwater said he would spend a total of three weeks in New Hampshire before the state's first-in-the-nation presidential primary March 10.

He began his bid for support less than 72 hours after Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, the only other announced candidate for the GOP nomination, had departed.

Goldwater elaborated briefly on a statement earlier this week that he favors threatening Russia with "a rupture of diplomatic ties to win the cold war."

He said Tuesday Russia would "free captive nations" rather than risk any such severance of diplomatic recognition.

He said that to settle the Cuban question, he would openly support Cuban exile groups and give them the guns and ammunition to blast Castro out of his island stronghold now defended with Soviet arms.

"I would help Cuban exiles," Goldwater said. "I would train them and supply them."

The Arizona conservative, walking with the aid of a cane, had to cut a public reception for him short by one hour because his foot, still in a cast, pained him.

A calcium deposit was recently removed from his heel.

Despite the game leg, he opened his New Hampshire campaign with a personal touch. When Susan Joos, four, of Concord came up to him in a reception line, he tweaked her nose. The little girl squealed, and her mother, Mrs. Richard Joos, smiled her approval.

He disappointed one supporter when he said he did not play chess.

"But I get in some poker occasionally," Goldwater said.