Likely Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee could beat Pres. Obama according to a series of polls conducted by Rasmussen.
The results of the polls, released on Sunday, show Romney leading Obama 44 percent to 42 percent, and Huckabee drawing even at 43 percent. However, other Republican contenders do not fair as well: Sarah Palin trails Obama by 11 points, 49 percent to 38 percent, and Newt Gingrich trails by 8 points, 47 percent to 39 percent. Other potential candidates with lower name recognition trail Obama anywhere from 10 percent (Jon Huntsman Jr.) to 17 percent (Haley Barbour.)
Pollster Scott Rasmussen writes, “The most significant finding is that regardless of what GOP candidate is named, the president earns between 42 percent and 49 percent. This suggests the campaign is starting off in a fairly competitive environment, though much can change in the next year-and-a-half.”
A January 24 Rasmussen poll surveying the possible Republican primary field showed Mitt Romney leading the pack with 24 percent, followed by Palin with 19 percent, Huckabee with 17 percent, and Gingrich with 11 percent.