Twitter has played a big part in the run up to the 2012 US Presidential Elections, both as an outpost for prospective candidates, and also as a tracker that has mirrored the rise and fall of the potential Republican nominees.

Today is Super Tuesday, where some 410 delegates (almost 18 percent of the total) will be involved in contests in Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and Alaska. Convincing wins on this day typically propel candidates to the party nomination. So which of the four leading GOP contenders is in the best shape heading into Super Tuesday?

Over on their official blog, Twitter has released this graphic which tracks the tweets mentioning the GOP candidates since the Iowa Caucuses back in January. It’s been a volatile ride, with each of the Republican candidates having their moments to shine. But going into Super Tuesday, it’s Mitt Romney who leads Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, and this momentum, and the outcome of today’s contests, might be enough to push him over the edge.

(Source: Twitter blog.)