By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – As the calendar flips to 2012, the national focus zeros in on the upcoming Presidential election slated for November. With Democrat Barack Obama currently holding the office, the pressure is on the Republican Party to bring forth a viable candidate who can rival the incumbent.

As GOP primaries begin to heat up across the nation, L’Observateur asked visitors to its website who they would like to see on the ballot on election night. The leading vote getter was Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who garnered about a quarter of the response, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who picked up 20 percent in the poll.

There were also many who responded to the poll, more than 25 percent, who said they would rather see someone else other than the candidates listed on the web.

Full results are as follows:

• 10 percent of respondents chose “Rick Santorum.”

• 20 percent of respondents chose “Mitt Romney.”

• 12 percent of respondents chose “Newt Gingrich.”

• 24 percent of respondents chose “Ron Paul.”

• 6 percent of respondents chose “John Huntsman.”

• 28 percent of respondents chose “None of the above.”