Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney logged a big win in a straw poll of GOP activists Saturday at the New Hampshire Republican Party's annual meeting.

Romney garnered 35 percent of the vote, well ahead of second-place finisher U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who drew 11 percent.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Palenty finished third with 8 percent and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP's 2008 vice presidential nominee, came in fourth with 7 percent. Tea Party favorites U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of South Carolina tied for fifth place with 5 percent each. 

Other candidates often mentioned as potential 2012 GOP presidential candidates receiving votes in the poll included former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 3 percent, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 3 percent and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour with 1 percent.

Nearly 500 Republicans were eligible to vote, 273 of whom cast ballots in the poll conducted by ABC News and WMUR-TV.

New Hampshire is the first state in the nation to hold a presidential primary election, which is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 14, 2012.