Job Approval Vs. Disapproval:

• President Barack Obama – 47% Vs. 48%

GOP Favorable Vs. Unfavorable:

• Mike Huckabee – 36% Vs. 42%
• Mitt Romney – 32% Vs. 43%
• Sarah Palin – 31% Vs. 61%
• Newt Gingrich – 28% vs. 55%
• Rand Paul – 26% Vs. 45%
• Chris Christie – 28% Vs. 30%

General Election Head to Head:

• Obama – 48% Vs. Huckabee – 43%
• Obama – 47% Vs. Romney 41%
• Obama – 54% Vs. Palin – 36%
• Obama – 52% Vs. Gingrich – 38%
• Obama – 48% Vs. Paul – 38%
• Obama – 48% Vs Christie – 39%

Again, this is an aggregate national poll but it shows a couple of things:

• Obama has a negative approval rating
• This GOP candidate field is weak against the President in the general election.

Additionally, President Obama is doing well with independent voters.

The president wins by racking up the independent vote by double-digit margins against everyone but Christie, who holds him to a seven-point advantage. The others trail with this group by ten (Huckabee and Romney) to a whopping 28 points (Palin). Obama also pads his leads by getting double-digit GOP support against Gingrich and Palin.

If the GOP wants to beat Obama in 2012, they had better develop a better candidate field, consolidate behind him or her and be ready to hit the ground running after Labor Day 2011. The delay in the GOP selection process may allow say a Rep. Paul Ryan or Governor Mitch Daniels to jump into the field and become the fresh face of the GOP.

The GOP needs such a candidate, if they wish to win next year.