Romney big winner in N.H. straw poll

DERRY, N.H., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was way ahead of the rest of the pack in a presidential straw poll Saturday of New Hampshire Republicans.

Romney won 35 percent of the vote among more than 400 party members assembled to select a new chairman, Politico reported. Libertarian Rep. Ron Paul of Texas was second with 11 percent.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who was at the convention promoting a new book, got 8 percent and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin 7 percent.

Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota trailed with 5 percent, while Herman Cain, a black businessman and the CEO of Godfather's Pizza, had 4 percent. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Indiana Rep. Mike Pence and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee tied with 3 percent each.

Romney was widely expected to win big since he was governor of a neighboring state and has a vacation home in Wolfeboro, N.H. No one else appears to have emerged from the pack, at least in New Hampshire, home to the first presidential primary.

The straw poll, a first for New Hampshire, was run by ABC News and the network's New Hampshire affiliate, WMUR-TV.