Poll: No favorites in 2012 GOP Battle
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/11/art.romney.file.gi.jpg caption="A Gallup poll released Thursday indicates that 14 percent of Republican voters and Republican-leaning independents say they would like to see Mitt Romney as their party's nominee in 2012."]Washington (CNN) - It's still early in the pre-season in the next battle for the White House, and a new poll indicates that the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination is wide open.
A Gallup poll released Thursday indicates that 14 percent of Republican voters and Republican-leaning independents say they would like to see former Massachusetts Gov. and 2008 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney as their party's nominee.
Eleven percent of those questioned said they'd like former Alaska Gov. and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin as their party's candidate in 2012, with 7 percent backing Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, 4 percent supporting the newest member of the Senate, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, and 3 percent pulling for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and for former Arkansas Gov. and 2008 Republican White House hopeful Mike Huckabee. Everyone else registered at 2 percent or less.
The survey, without prompting any names, asked Republicans and Republican leaning-independents whom they would most like to see as the party's 2012 presidential candidate.
In a hypothetical 2012 general election match-up, the poll indicates that 44 percent of the public say they would likely support President Barack Obama if he decides to run for re-election, with 42 percent backing the Republican candidate and 14 percent undecided or supporting another candidate.
According to the survey, Democrats would overwhelmingly back Obama and Republicans overwhelming support the GOP candidate.
Thirty-one percent of independents questioned say they would support Obama, with 45 percent backing the Republican candidate and 1 in 4 backing another candidate or undecided.
The survey's release comes one week before some possible 2012 GOP presidential contenders will speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.
The Gallup poll was conducted February 1-3, with 1,025 adults questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 4 percentage points for the overall sample and plus or minus 5 percentage points for the Republican only questions.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
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Ron Paul 2012, no one else in this poll has a clear vision of restoring individual liberty and Constitutional law.
Let's see we have
Teflon Mitt – proven loser – couldn't buyh is way to a decent showing
SaRAH LOL
McCain loser and older that dirt
Brown – wait until they find out her is Libul!
Gingrich? So last century
Huckabee – bible thumper vote but no others
If they can't do a lot better than that Obama in a landslide.
I would continue to vote for McCain if he ran, but it hasn't worked twice yet. Mitt Romney might make a good choice, but they're going to have to come up with a strong, convincing plan because the Democrats have another good potential candidate who was mentioned by George Will today.
A new candidate, will likely emerge from the primary, to run in 2012.
If that happens, it will likely be because the people are looking for new leadership, and not the same old candidates who have run in the past. That would automatically eliminate Palin, McCain, Romney, and Huckabee.
Huckabee would be the worst candidate possible, because of the issue of separation between church and state.
Although I'm a democrat, I would pick Romney over any of the other bums in contention. But I really want Palin to get the nomination so that will ensure the POTUS another 4 years in office.
no republicans need apply – they have proven themselves to be racist and their rhetoric indicates that they have become a party similliar to that in Germany in the 1930's. Lincoln would be ashamed .
Who cares? The election is almost 3 years away! The politicians need to concentrate on fixing this economy! The last thing we need is another 2 year election campaign by candidates that should be concentrating on DOING the job they already have!
I hope Palin runs – the primary debates would be so entertaining!
Maybe the politicians need to read the article that states Americans are the least happy with government in 14 years! Anybody parading around, drumming up support to run for President in 2012, needs to be kicked to the curb! If the last few years have proven anything, it's that most of our elected officials are not capable of going to the bathroom by themeselves, much less governing this country!
Enough already!!! Start doing the jobs you were elected for!
Here's a concept, get elected, use common sense, get results, get re-elected!
Guess I'll have to switch parties just so I can vote for Palin, cause us liberals are soooo scared of her...LOL
Right now, none of these characters really can do much better. I suspect that they would do much worse that Obama.
I won't vote for ANY republicant again. Not after watching them this past year.
Maybe if we get a few in there that are more interested in helping US instead of stalling and obstructing I'll change - but not likely to happen.
I hope the lunatic righties keep pushing Republicans toward Palin so she can lose all over again in a general election.
so yeah! RUN SARAH RUN!
I'd like to see Mitt Romney - with Scott Brown on the ticket for 2012.
I hope Romney runs; he is good at running..from serving his country, from Massachusettes, for the wealthy...
Cannot fathom how Palin is second. The previous article states how 71% feel she is not qualified. She is now trying to hijack the Tea Party movement (along with other neo-cons) when she is clearly not in line with the true movement.
dumbest poll ever taken. Obama has been in office one year and you're asking people if they'll vote for him THREE YEARS in the future? idiots.
What has the GOP ever done for America? They are against using ANY taxpayer dollars to revitalize and rebuild America, its people, schools, roads, healthcare system, other infrastructure. They are against civil liberties/social progression and believe in a repressive puritanical backward society. The GOP spends American's taxpayer dollars like a drunken sailor by funding wars around the world. All the dollars flow OUT of America. Are we ready for more GOP HELL in 2010? and 2012? We are still digging ouselves out of the last 8 years.
I know the Dems have issues as well, but more GOP HELL??? is the answer. We need a party who actually DOES SOMETHING GOOD for America. If not, we will one day become a thrird world nation as other nations overtake us on every level.
The favorite will be any choice other than Obama.
I will never vote for a Mormon for the White House. Period.
Jeb Bush will come out of the woodwork in early 2011 to say that he's going to run. He'll say he's not like his bro' but we all know better. He'll run as a populist, conservative, stand on his record as Florida gov, and trot out his Latina wife to counter the O-Man.
Jobless claims are down again. This is bad news for the republicans.
What a sad bunch of political hacks.
Even considering the Alaskan Air Head as a contender demonstrates just how pathetic these folks are.
Putting McCain and that other dumb dumb Gingrich on the list really makes the salient point-THEY KNOW NOTHING THEREFORE TRY AND CHANGE THE SUBJECT.
GOP: Let's see, Mitt Romney – no idea's, flip-flopper, stands for nothing; Sarah Palin – right wing extremist, stands for hate, divisiveness, and rallying dumb people; John McCain – no idea's, remembered best for inflicting an idiot on the voting public, war mongering, explosive anger; Scott Brown – near total stranger, but shows potential as a moderate, which is what everybody is looking for.
Democrats: I think that Joe Biden should be gracious enought to step down, and encourage President Obama replace him with Hillary Clinton, popular moderate, and choice of intelligent people. Candidate Obama was certainly getting lousy advice when he didn't pick her the first time, and it nearly cost him the vote of educated white women over the age of 30, as well as MODERATES, the REAL middle America. With Joe Biden's foot nearly permanently down his own throat, it's a cinch that he doesn't represent the opinions of the majority of Democrats and is an incredible liability to the party.
This idiot is as bad as sarah palin...that's it...