GOP Voters Sour on Palin, Warm Up to Huckabee

Poll also shows that President Obama has no worries on the left
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 28, 2010 6:56 PM CST
GOP Voters Sour on Palin, Warm Up to Huckabee
Gov. Sarah Palin talks during a book signing in Columbia, S.C., earlier this month.   (AP Photo/Virginia Postic, File)

A new CNN poll shows President Obama and Sarah Palin trending in opposite directions ahead of 2012, and Mike Huckabee sitting pretty:

  • The percentage of GOP voters who'd support a Palin run for the nomination dropped to 49, down 18 points from two years ago.
  • Two-thirds say they'd back Huckabee, followed by Mitt Romney (59%), and Newt Gingrich (54%).
  • Democratic voters apparently have no trouble with President Obama's cross-aisle deals: 78% want him to run again, while 19% want someone else—the lowest negative figure since the question was first asked in March.
  • Bonus poll: A separate survey by Public Policy Polling shows Palin with surprisingly negative numbers in Alaska, even among Republicans.

Some quick analyses of the numbers:

  • Huck's for real: It's easy to dismiss Huckabee as having too narrow an appeal, writes Steve Kornacki at Salon, "but it's getting harder to ignore the polls." His numbers could fade quickly if he decides to run, but for now, he deserves the "front-runner" label as much as anyone.
  • Mitt's the real winner: "Given that this poll makes Huckabee more likely to run and thus to split the social conservative vote with Palin, you know who these numbers really benefit?" asks Allahpundit at Hot Air. Answer: Romney.
(More Sarah Palin stories.)

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