Obama Keeps Lead in 2012 Match-Ups Against Republicans

His job-approval ratings may be down after nine months, but President Obama still leads in match-ups against four potential Republican challengers in 2012 by margins ranging from 4 to 20 points, according to a Public Policy Polling survey conducted Oct. 16-19. The margin of error is 3.5 points.

The Republican who comes closest to Obama is Mike Huckabee; he trails by 47 percent to 43 percent with 10 percent undecided. Obama leads Sarah Palin, 52-40, with 8 percent undecided; Tim Pawlenty, 50-30, with 20 percent undecided, and Mitt Romney, 48-40, with 12 percent undecided.

Huckabee is viewed favorably by a margin of 33 percent to 29 percent with 38 percent not sure. Palin is viewed unfavorably by 51 percent and favorably by 36 percent with 13 percent not sure. Romney is viewed favorably and unfavorably by equal numbers (34 percent) with 33 percent not sure. Pawlenty's favorability numbers are not very significant, since 72 percent don't know enough about him to be sure of their opinion.