Poll: Huckabee and Obama neck-and-neck in hypothetical race
(CNN)-Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee would go toe-to-toe with President Obama if he sought the presidency in 2012, according to a new Fairleigh Dickinson University survey. Among registered voters nationwide, 46 percent said they'd vote for Huckabee and the same number would re-elect the president.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is also considering another presidential run, only trailed the president by one percentage point. Voters favored the president 44 to 43 percent over Romney, who wrote a Wednesday op-ed attacking Obama's treatment of unemployment and job creation in USA Today.
And though he's declared his non-candidacy for president, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie also performs well against the sitting president whom he trails by six percentage points. Registered voters chose Obama 46 to 40 percent over Christie. The governor has adamantly denied an ambition to helm the Republican ticket in 2012, but helped the House GOP earn $10 million in a DC fundraiser Wednesday night.
Other possible contenders for the Republican nomination saw less favorable results in a hypothetical matchup with Obama. More than half the nation preferred the president over former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin - 54 to 34 percent. And Tim Pawlenty, who formally announced a presidential exploratory committee, fell behind Obama by 14 percentage points. Voters preferred the president 48 to 34 percent over the former Minnesota governor. Obama also led former House Speaker Newt Gingrich 52 to 37 percent in the theoretical race.
When it comes to first GOP presidential picks, more Republican registered voters don't know who they'd choose yet, according to the poll. Twenty-three percent said they're unsure or they'd prefer someone else to run as the Republican candidate than those named in the survey. But 21 percent were sure of Huckabee as their first choice and Romney came in a close second, receiving 20 percent support. Both potential presidential hopefuls benefited from a previous run for the highest office in the nation. Palin, who ran as the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2008, came in a distant third with 12 percent of registered voters saying they'd choose her to run as the Republican candidate for president.
The Fairleigh-Dickinson University poll was conducted from March 21-28, before the president's speech on Libya. Eight hundred registered voters across the country were questioned by telephone. The poll has a sampling error of plus-or-minus 3.5 percentage points.
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Obama and the left wishs Huckabee " Gomer Pile " would run against him because they know Obama would win easily thats why they keep pushing Huckabee!
Waht America REALLY wants to know is a survey from Beck University!!
false, huckabee is unemployed, what are you rating him on, obama has a septic tank to clean
Huckabee is the best candidate the GOP has? Ha!
I sincerely hope Huckabee runs...Obama 2012!
maybe President Obama should get on CNN or MSNBC ( FoxNews of course won't let him on) and tell flat out LIES about Huckabee, then of course he can say that he miss-spoke. That should boost his numbers ahead of the Huckster!!
Yea, this goof-ball who denies evolution, science, history, women’s rights, and pretty much everything based on fact is "neck and neck" with President Obama. Sure you keep banking on that GOPers.
But did you see all the stupid and I mean lamp post stupid birthers commenting about Obama not having a birth certificate. How did these pea-brains survive adolescence?
Hey all you dumb-ass birthers – give me your email address and I’ll send you the copy.
Obama wouldn't have a chance.
This is funny because America wants Ron Paul and the media keep pushing these phony polls of losers.
They won't even mention Ron Paul at all
"Fairleigh Dickinson is the largest private university in the State of New Jersey with over 12,000 students"
Well, that explains a lot, apparently the statistical pool was students, parents and alumni!
I miss Reagan.
What? They only polled crazy evangelicals in the south. How absurd, Huckabee is a huckster.
Huckabee would be worse than Obama.
Romney is the best choice to get the country back on its economic feet.
Huckabee, Romney or Billy the greased pig chaser would be better than Obummie
Huckabee is WAAAAAY too socially conservative to ever get the moderate vote. He would turn this country into a theocracy if given half a chance.
The last decade has been nothing but a continual lesson in the dangers of religious extremists. Not even we would be stupid enough to put one in the White House.
That is one of many polls. RCP has a list of all of them.....out of the 6 or so listed...only one shows a tie. I will not vote for a Preacher to run this country.
What a joke, Huckabee? This guy just recently said that all American's should be 'indoctrinated' by gun point... Here is the quote: Mike Huckabee states, “I almost wish that there would be, like, a simultaneous telecast, and all Americans would be forced–forced at gunpoint no less–to listen to every David Barton message, and I think our country would be better for it. I wish it’d happen.”
It seems the Obama administration has been in campaign mode since 2008, Huckabee yet to begin.
One would think Huck would be a shoe-in once he begins a campaign.
Never in a hundred years will this poll be acurate. Step out into reality and Obama would crush the Huckster.Ths poll is Fairleigh inaccurate.
I would like to see these two debate the isures of today.
Amazin' CNN posted an acurate picture for once. President Barrack Hussien O'bama pointing his finger and "dictating" to we common folk. You know we folk that cling to our guns and our religion, we folks here in fly-over country.
On the other hand, Mr. Huckabee has his hand to his ear. He appears to be listening to what the Country (MY COUNTRY) is saying.
Mr. O'bama, we are coming to get you in 2012. Your view for the future of MY COUNTRY, is way way different than the vast majority of MY COUNTRY. Lace 'em up, we will be heard at the voting box.
Obama doesn't nearly have the support of this country he once had. Obama's done for in 2012. It's as simple as that.
Two words: YEAH RIGHT.
Did they do this by state? The GOP has a long way to go for the electoral votes. Especially since their governors have now enraged huge numbers of people in Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Obama will be re-elected ! Even with the hypothetical's he's alway's tied or way ahead ! Obama has a much broader base of support than ever get's polled in these types of poll's ! He is also a dynamic campaigner ! He will win easily , after the GOP finishes their war on the middle class and the teaparty drag's them down the toilet ! The only clear choice is Obama ! Obama 2012 !