Poll: Obama, Huckabee running even By: Andy Barr December 10, 2009 02:51 PM EST
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is trailing President Barack Obama by only one percentage point in a potential 2012 matchup, according to a new Public Policy Polling survey out Thursday.
Huckabee runs stronger against Obama than any other Republican in the poll of 1,253 registered voters, getting 45 percent to Obama’s 46 percent.
Despite having taken a political hit when a man Huckabee granted clemency to during his time as governor was suspected of killing four police officers in Washington state, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate is running stronger against Obama now that he did in November, when he trailed the president 49-44 percent.
Additionally, Huckabee’s favorability rating remains almost unchanged, dropping only one percentage point from 36 percent to 35 percent. The poll was conducted December 4-7, after the clemency decision has become an issue for Huckabee.
Former Govs. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Sarah Palin of Alaska also register over 40 percent against Obama. Romney trails Obama 47 percent to 42 percent in a potential 2012 presidential matchup, while Palin is down 6 percentage points, 50-44 percent.
“It’s no surprise that as Barack Obama’s approval rating has fallen so have his leads over his potential 2012 opponents,” said Public Policy Polling President Dean Debnam. “His standing with the voters is definitely weaker now than it was a year ago.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty – the only other Republican name surveyed against Obama’s – trails the president 48-35 percent.
But while the other three GOP 2012 contenders enjoy high name recognition, the poll showed Pawlenty still has a long way to go before he becomes a household name among GOP primary voters. When asked about Pawlenty, 64 percent of respondents had no opinion of the Minnesota governor.