After sinking money and resources into them in 2008, the former Massachusetts governor won't participate in any of the informal contests this time around

Mitt Romney's campaign has just confirmed that the presumed front runner in the 2012 presidential campaign will not be participating in several high profile straw polls this year, prompting immediate pushback from at least one state party chairman.

Romney plans to take a pass on contests in Iowa (where he hasn't seemed prepared to compete anyway), Florida and Michigan.

Here's the statement from Matt Rhoades, Romney's campaign manager:

"Our campaign has made the decision to not participate in any straw polls, whether it's in Florida, Iowa, Michigan or someplace else. We respect the straw poll process. In the last presidential campaign we were both strengthened as an organization and learned some important lessons by participating in them. This time we will focus our energies and resources on winning primaries and caucuses. We look forward to bringing Mitt Romney's strong pro-jobs message to every part of the country."