Romney Emerges as GOP's 2012 Frontrunner: Poll

The 2012 presidential race is heating up—at least in a Gallup poll of Republican voters. CQ Politics looks at the results, which have former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney out front, with 26% saying he should top the GOP ticket. Sarah Palin snags 21%, Mike Huckabee gets 19%, and Newt Gingrich scores 14%. But the poll also reports favorability ratings, and there the picture is different:

• Palin: Here she wins, with a 71% to 21% favorable/unfavorable ratio among Republicans. Nationwide she is the most divisive of the pack, with a 45% to 43% unfavorable/favorable number. She also received by far the fewest "no opinions."
• Romney: 56% to 17% favorable/unfavorable among Republicans, and 37% to 29% in the US at large.
• Huckabee: 59% of GOP voters like the former Arkansas governor, while 16% would rather not. Among all voters, his numbers change to 42% in favor, 23% against.

(More Mitt Romney stories.)