Politics | Public Policy Polling Huckabee Tied With Obama in 2012 Poll Fox host polls stronger than any other Republican hopeful By Kevin Spak Posted Dec 11, 2009 8:07 AM CST Copied Former Arkansas Gov., and 2008 Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee speaks at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, Ark., Monday, Dec. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston) Mike Huckabee would give Barack Obama a run for his money if an election were held today; he’s just 1% behind the commander in chief in a new Public Policy Polling survey. Among the 1,253 surveyed, 46% said they’d back Obama, 45% Huckabee. Despite the heat he took from granting clemency to cop killer Maurice Clemmons, the former Arkansas governor scored better than any other potential Republican candidate. Mitt Romney trailed 42% to 49% and Sarah Palin 44% to 50%. Tim Pawlenty fared poorest, trailing Obama 35% to 48%. But that’s probably in part because Pawlenty has poorer name recognition than his competitors; 64% had no opinion of him. The poll came just after Clemmons, who was freed after Huckabee reduced his life sentence, allegedly shot four police officers, but Huckabee’s favorability rating dropped just one point to 35%. Read These Next One critical island in Iran has remained unscathed in airstrikes. Iran's new supreme leader is said to already have war wounds. Warning to Trump on Iran: Don't 'get eliminated yourself.' Tennis star melts down, swears at booing crowd. Report an error