Romney tops poll of N.H. GOP voters

It may be two years until the next presidential election, but it's never too early to take a poll on it, especially in the first-in-the-nation primary state.

A new WMUR Granite State Poll from the University of New Hampshire, taken of Republican primary voters, shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has a commanding lead over former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Romney leads Palin by 29 points, 41 to 12. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is next with 11 percent. He's followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (9 percent), Texas Rep. Ron Paul (6 percent), former Speaker Newt Gingrich (5 percent), Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (3 percent) and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (3 percent).

Keep in mind Romney has favored-son status in New Hampshire, where he keeps a home on Lake Winnipesaukee. And he was governor of nearby Massachusetts.

John McCain won New Hampshire in 2008 with 37 percent of the vote. Romney was second with 32 percent.

The Granite State poll has been surveying New Hampshire voters for over a year and notes in its analysis: "Romney has consistently led among potential Republicans since February 2009 and has been above 40% throughout that period. ... Giuliani, Huckabee and Palin have been jockeying for second place but none has consistently received more than 10% support."