President 2012 Poll Watch: Romney 41% Vs. Obama 41%, Christie 43% Vs Obama 40%, Huckabee 39% Vs. Obama 42%

On the Republican primary side it breaks out like this:

• 27% Christie
• 17% Romney
• 16% Palin
• 14% Huckabee
• 5% Daniels
• 2% Pawlenty
• 2% Thune

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who has said he would not be a candidate is doing the best but all of the Republican contenders are within the ballpark.

The poll, conducted from Dec. 30, 2010 to Jan. 3, 2011, shows Christie leads among conservative Republicans with 28%, followed by Palin (18%), Huckabee (15%) and Romney (14%). Christie also leads among Born-Again Christians with 27%. He also does well with moderate Republicans (23%). Romney leads that group with 28%. 

Looking at age groups, Christie does best with those 18-29 (36%) and 30-49 (33%).

Both Christie and Romney lead Obama among independent voters. For Christie, that margin is 42%-29%; and for Romney, 39%-31%. Of the listed Republicans, Palin does the worst against Obama among independents, losing 38%-32%.

Obama loses to each of the Republicans among voters over age 65; and trails by the biggest margins to Romney (51%-38%) and Christie (49%-39%).