Tim Pawlenty had better head back to New Hampshire

Time to dock the boat and get serious in New Hampshire

Is our governor serious about the 2012 presidential race? If he is, he'd better make tracks to New Hampshire, where his poll numbers among likely Republican voters can't seem to climb out of the basement.

The latest WMUR/University of New Hampshire poll shows he continues to trail most of the field with 3 percent support; only former former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum scored lower marks, with 2 percent.

With one exception, no Republican has lost the New Hampshire primary and gone on to win the presidency. The exception? George W. Bush in 2000.

Here's how the new poll numbers shake out:

• Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: 41 percent
• Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: 12 percent
• Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani: 11 percent
• Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: 9 percent
• Texas congressman Ron Paul: 6 percent
• Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich: 5 percent
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: 3 percent
• Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum: 2 percent

This particular poll has been tracking Pawlenty since October last year. As you can see from the chart below, he has a lot of ground to cover. In fact, New Hampshire Republicans haven't appeared to take anyone seriously from the beginning, except Romney.

Via WMUR