Washington (CNN) -- New Hampshire Republican political pros are not expecting a big surprise when the state's voters cast their ballots in Tuesday's GOP presidential primary, seeing an easy victory for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. But the race for second place is much less clear.





A CNN survey of 52 New Hampshire GOP insiders found that only one thought Romney would lose the primary, and that was to former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. This group included Republican leaders in both chambers of the state Legislature, local elected and party officials, business and conservative interest group leaders, veterans of previous primary campaigns, GOP political consultants and other party activists. (Those surveyed were granted anonymity for their individual responses to encourage candor. The names of the insiders who participated in this survey appear at the end of this article.)





The political insiders also thought that while Romney's margin of victory would be substantial, he would not crack 40 percent. When their predictions for what percentage of the vote each candidate would receive were averaged, Romney came out with a victory of 19 percentage points over Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, followed closely by Santorum.





Percentage of primary vote expected


Mitt Romney -- 37%


Ron Paul -- 18%


Rick Santorum -- 16%


Newt Gingrich --12%


Jon Huntsman -- 12%


Rick Perry -- 4%


Others -- 1 %





The CNN insiders closely mirror the most recent statewide poll of likely GOP voters from WMUR and the University of New Hampshire, which indicates a strong lead for Romney, but the same list of other candidates vying for the No. 2 position. Second place could be key coming out of New Hampshire and going into the contentious South Carolina primary January 21.





"Other than Romney right now, feels like the junior varsity on the field," said one New Hampshire GOP insider. Another said, "I believe like so many (that) it's Romney's to lose."





Since finishing second in the GOP presidential primary here four years ago to Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Romney has continued to court New Hampshire Republican activists and maintained a home on Lake Winnipesaukee, about an hour north of Manchester.





So far, none of the other candidates has been able to knock down Romney in a state with a tradition of humbling front-runners. All the other contenders seem to have significant flaws, at least in the eyes of local party activists.





Paul: Too 'wacky'?


Paul, who commands a loyal following in the state, faces two of the same hurdles that he faced in Iowa: the view among many in the party -- fair or unfair -- that he can't defeat President Barack Obama in November, and his isolationist foreign policy views, which are anathema to many Republicans.





What do you think has been the biggest obstacle for Paul in New Hampshire?


Perception that he can't win in the general election -- 50%


His stance on foreign policy -- 48%


Paul is too extreme for New Hampshire (volunteered) -- 2%





"He has a ceiling to grow entirely because of his foreign policy views," one New Hampshire GOP insider said. "He has his bloc; they are passionate and not going anywhere."





Others said they feel that Paul's foreign policy stance feeds into a broader impression of 76-year-old congressman and his campaign. "He's often wacky," another GOP insider said. "And his supporters turn off regular voters with their messianic zeal."





Santorum: Not enough time


Hoping to build on his near-victory in the Iowa caucuses, Santorum has held town-hall meetings throughout the state taking questions from all comers. Doing so earns him points from locals who believe they have a duty to cross-examine White House hopefuls, but it also has led to a number of hard questions about Santorum's strenuous opposition to same-sex marriage, which at times put him on the defensive. Indeed, a slight majority of the New Hampshire GOP insiders said they felt Santorum's stance on social issues was a major handicap for him in the state
Who was the only one who did not feel as "junior varsity"? Who is a clear favourite? What insiders said about the all story? Who has been a clear favorite politician at New Hampshire? Who is the favorite? Is the race close? What is the name of politicians in New Hampshire who having a very close race for the second place?
Romney Gov. Mitt Romney. "I believe like so many (that) it's Romney's to lose." Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney. race for second place is much less clear. Ron Paul
question: Who was the only one who did not feel as "junior varsity"?, answer: Romney | question: Who is a clear favourite?, answer: Gov. Mitt Romney. | question: What insiders said about the all story?, answer: "I believe like so many (that) it's Romney's to lose." | question: Who has been a clear favorite politician at New Hampshire?, answer: Mitt Romney. | question: Who is the favorite?, answer: Mitt Romney. | question: Is the race close?, answer: race for second place is much less clear. | question: What is the name of politicians in New Hampshire who having a very close race for the second place?, answer: Ron Paul