President 2012 Poll Watch: Huckabee Leads Romney, Palin and Gingrich in GOP Likely Support

Of course, the lede from CNN is: TRENDING: CNN 2012 Poll: Obama and Palin going in different directions?

As the start of the next presidential campaign nears, a new national poll suggests that President Barack Obama’s tax-cut compromise with congressional Republicans did not hurt his standing among Democrats, while former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin may be dropping in the eyes of Republicans.

But, this is misleading since President Obama has NO real primary opposition and the polling is not Obama Vs any Likely GOP nominee. But, what is important in this poll is how well Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich are doing with Sarah Palin in the field.

The poll is here.

In the battle for the GOP presidential nomination, the survey suggests Palin may have some work to do if she throws her hat in the ring. Only 49 percent of Republicans say that they are likely to support Sen. John McCain’s running mate in 2008 for the Republican nomination in 2012.

“That’s a huge 18-point drop since December of 2008, when two-thirds of GOPers said they were likely to support Palin. It also puts her well behind potential rivals Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, and a bit behind Newt Gingrich as well,” adds Holland.

Two-thirds of Republicans questioned say they would likely support Huckabee as their nominee in 2012. The former Arkansas governor and 2008 GOP presidential candidate is considering another bid for the White House. So is another candidate from the last election, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Fifty-nine percent of Republicans say they would likely support Romney. That number drops to 54 percent for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, who is also contemplating a run for the White House.

This poll is most alarming for Mitt Romney since as the anti-Palin candidate he does not stand out.

If indeed, Sarah Palin does not run in 2012, I am thinking that the other three, Huckabee, Romney, or Gingrich may be slugging it out throughout the primary season – something that the GOP will not want as a prelude to an Obama face off. This may very well open the race for another candidate, backed by Sarah Palin, to run against the establishment field.

Indiana Rep. Mike Pence or Governor Mitch Daniels?