Cinnaminson GOP Straw Poll Results Name Mitt Romney Winner

Cinnaminson Republicans chose former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as next year's presidential candidate in a recent .

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was also chosen as Romney's running mate but a large margin.

Out of the township's 3,153 registered Republicans, 312 voted in the straw poll by online survey, fax, e-mail, snail mail, telephone or Facebook.

Thirteen potential presidential candidates, who either officially declared their candidacies, established exploratory committees, or announced interest in being a candidate, were on the ballots. 

Romney narrowly took first place garnering 21 percent of the vote. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty earned 14 percent and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani had 13 percent.

Tying for fourth place at 10 percent were business executive Herman Cain of Georgia and Texas Representative Ron Paul.

Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann took sixth place with 8 percent and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum claimed seventh place with 7 percent.

The remaining tallies were former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton of Maryland, 3 percent; former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich of Georgia, 3 percent; former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, 2 percent; former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, 2 percent; former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, 0 percent; and former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, 0 percent.

Fomer Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, business executive Donald Trump, and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels were deleted from the ballot once announcing they were out of the contest.

“This straw poll confirms the notion that Mitt Romney starts out of the gate leading the pack and I congratulate him on his victory," said Sandy Iaquinto, president of the Cinnaminson Republican Club, in a recent release.

"There's also compelling evidence in these numbers that the 2012 race is wide open,” said Iaquinto. “There were four others not far behind in double digits.”

Previous straw polls conducted by the Cinnaminson GOP produced clear winners, Iaquinto said. This time, it was a tight contest.

The ballot also surveyed preferences for the party’s vice-presidential nomination and the runaway winner was Christie.

Iaquinto said one of the straw poll’s goals is to bring the often forgotten Garden State into the presidential campaign picture. New Jersey's presidential primary used to be held in early June. In 2008, it was moved up to early February. The Legislature is currently debating whether to move it back to June.

“Cinnaminson is on the national map,” Iaquinto said. "In dramatic fashion, our straw poll reveals how the 2012 race is up for grabs. Today, Romney can flash a big smile though because two out of three times our straw poll winner captures the nomination. Soon there could be a new saying sweeping the country: 'As Cinnaminson goes, so goes the nation,' " she said.