Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will officially launch his campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination next week in New Hampshire, a Romney aide said Thursday.

Romney is said to be planning his launch campaign at a mid-day barbecue in Stratham, New Hampshire on June 2, a state which the Romney camp has focused on as it holds an important early contest for the Republican nomination, Reuters reported.

Considered by many to be the GOP frontrunner -- of a thin group of not-so-high-profile names -- Romney is the best financed of the confirmed candidates; last week, he managed to net $10 million in pledges at a fundraising call-a-thon in Las Vegas.

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