ROMNEY UP IN N.H. - AT 4:40 P.M. ET:  It's much too early, but I thought you'd be interested in this, from The Hill:

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads the Republican presidential field in the home of the nation’s first primary, according to a new poll.

Romney is the preferred choice of just over 50 percent of New Hampshire voters, according to the poll. Romney easily led former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who clocked in at 17 percent.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich pulled 13 percent of the vote, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has set himself up as Romney's main opponent so far, won just 3 percent.

Romney's early lead comes a year and a half after the one-time governor of the neighboring Bay State finished second in the New Hampshire GOP presidential primary, taking 32 percent of the vote to Sen. John McCain's (Ariz.) 37 percent.

COMMENT:  Not surprising.  Romney's expertise on economic matters will serve him well, assuming, as we should, that the economy will still be a big problem during the next presidential campaign.  Also, he's very well known in New Hampshire, having been governor of Massachusetts.

But the presidential campaigns won't start seriously for another two years.  Plenty of time for others to come forward.

August 12, 2009