Former Massachusetts of Gov. Mitt Romney coasted to an easy win in the New Hampshire GOP primary last night, garnering nearly 40 percent of the vote.
Romney has the longest roster of education advisers among the GOP candidates. And he’s got a record in the Bay State of championing standards-based reform. He pushed for science to be included in the state’s testing system, and leaned on a district that tried to wiggle out of a requirement that all kids pass an exit exam before graduating from high school. He also likes charter schools and performance-pay for teachers.
Coming in second, with nearly 23 percent of the vote, was Rep. Ron Paul of Texas who’s called for getting rid of the U.S. Department of Education and phasing out the student loan program.
And third place went to former Utah Gov. Jon Hunstman, with nearly 17 percent of the vote. As governor, Huntsman helped his state buck the No Child Left Behind Act—although it eventually backed down.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania finished fourth, and fifth respectively. Texas Gov. Rick Perry was dead last, getting less than 1 percent of the vote.