Huckabee Tied With Obama in 2012 Poll

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%. (More Public Policy Polling stories.)