This June Your Vote Really Won’t Matter [VIDEO/POLL]

If you’re one of those New Jerseyans who says, “my vote doesn’t matter,” you are probably 100% accurate when it comes to the Garden State’s June presidential primary. Most political pundits feel the Republican nomination will already have been sewn up by a candidate and of course, President Barack Obama will have the Democratic nomination.

The all-important Iowa caucuses are in full swing today, but New Jersey’s slot in the nomination batting order is still six months away. In September of last year the Garden State moved its primary date from February to June in an effort to save the state about $12 million in election costs. The move most likely renders the primary worthless for New Jersey voters.

• NJ Decides 2012:  The Presidential Primaries

“It’s doubtful that this nomination process will go much further than Super Tuesday which is on March, 6 if it even goes that far,” explains Monmouth University poll director Patrick Murray. “It’s possible that this gets wrapped up and when we get to the time of New Jersey’s primary that it really doesn’t matter and New Jersey is once again left out in the cold in having a say.”

Murray explains, “For most New Jerseyans, in the end it doesn’t matter. We tend to get lost in the crowds as it is and I think the biggest impact that we’re going to feel is the (New Jersey) Governor (Chris Christie) himself. If Mitt Romney can win today in Iowa (and) win in New Hampshire he will be on a pretty good course to sew up this nomination quickly and he’ll have Chris Christie as one of the people that he’ll have to thank for that and that’ll have much more impact on the State of New Jersey then when our primary is.”

Romney has been airing an optimistic new ad in Iowa during the last days before the caucuses. The minute-long TV ad, released Thursday, shows clips from Romney’s presidential campaign announcement speech in June. In the spot, Romney talks about the “spirit of enterprise” and focuses on the opportunities America has provided its people.

Polls are showing him in a strong position to finish first or second. Last Friday, Romney and Christie took a bus tour across Iowa to fire up voters.

Courtesy Associated Press