Huckabee Leads 2012 Field in WSJ/NBC Poll

Following right on the heels of the POLITICO/George Washington University poll comes another poll of national favorables — this one from the Wall Street Journal and NBC:

Favorables/Unfavorables

1. Mike Huckabee (26/25, +1)
2. Mitt Romney (21/30, -9)
3. Newt Gingrich (24/35, -11)
4. Sarah Palin (30/48, -18)

Read the full results...

Analysis: As some will point out, the better known a candidate is, the higher their unfavorables. But Huckabee beats Romney by 10 points, despite identical name identification — and he nearly matches Palin's total favorables (the highest in the lot), despite her far greater name recognition. This has been a good week for Huckabee.

PPP: Huckabee Leads in WV, Trails in CA and MI

Public Policy Polling releases their latest 2012 state polls — for California, Michigan, and West Virginia. They will have Illinois and North Carolina numbers later this week:

California:

1. Mitt Romney (24 percent)
2. Newt Gingrich (21 percent)
3. Sarah Palin (18 percent)
4. Mike Huckabee (17 percent)

Michigan:

1. Mitt Romney (30 percent)
2. Sarah Palin (17 percent)
3. Newt Gingrich (16 percent)
4. Mike Huckabee (14 percent)

West Virginia:

1. Mike Huckabee (27 percent)
2. Sarah Palin (24 percent)
3. Newt Gingrich (16 percent)
4. Mitt Romney (13 percent)

Full results here...

Analysis: While Huckabee supporters would wish it otherwise, it is not surprising that Huckabee trails Romney, Gingrich, and Palin in the first two. Neither were strong states for him in 2008. But Huckabee leads the field in West Virginia in almost every category, including men and women, every age group, and among moderates and conservatives. The only group he fails to win is self-described "liberals," proving his controversial victory in the 2008 primary was no fluke. With high national favorables, a bigger platform, out-of-the-gate grassroots and fundraising, and enduring support in the states where he won last time — Huckabee should only improve on his 2008 showing.

POLITICO: Huckabee Polls Best for 2012

The latest Politico/George Washington University Battleground poll is out, and it's good news for Governor Huckabee — who beats out all the other potential GOP candidates:

Favorable (Strongly and Somewhat)

1. Mike Huckabee (49 percent)
2. Mitt Romney (45 percent)
3. Sarah Palin (44 percent)
4. Newt Gingrich (39 percent)

Strongly Favorable

1. Mike Huckabee (23 percent)
2. Sarah Palin (22 percent)
3. Newt Gingrich (17 percent)
4. Mitt Romney (16 percent)

Unfavorable (Strongly and Somewhat)

1. Mike Huckabee (25 percent)
2. Mitt Romney (28 percent)
3. Newt Gingrich (39 percent)
4. Sarah Palin (49 percent)

Strongly Unfavorable

1. Mike Huckabee (14 percent)
2. Mitt Romney (15 percent)
3. Newt Gingrich (29 percent)
4. Sarah Palin (39 percent)

Analysis: While poll watchers rightly point out that both Huckabee and Romney do well (Gingrich and Palin, not so much), Huckabee is the clear winner. Particularly, his strong favorables are over 25 percent higher than Romney's, who comes in 4th — another indication that Romney's support is shallow compared to the rest of the field.

PPP: Huckabee Tops Obama, Entire GOP Field

Public Policy Polling (D) has their latest monthly 2012 poll results — and it is all great news for Huckabee. He is the only member of the GOP field to top Obama in a head-to-head matchup, the only Republican to beat Obama among independents, and the only Republican with positive favorability ratings. He also pulls nearly 1 out of 5 Democrat votes. Across the board, it is a dominating showing for the Governor:

Mike Huckabee is the only possible GOP contender polling ahead of Obama this month, at 47/44. Going from arguably most pleasant to most angry across the spectrum of leading Republicans you then have Obama ahead of Mitt Romney 46-43, Newt Gingrich 47-43, Sarah Palin 49-43, and Glenn Beck 48-39.

Huckabee is the only candidate we polled this month to post positive favorability numbers, at 35/32. That's because he's relatively inoffensive to Democrats with only 44% having an unfavorable opinion of him. Mitt Romney's favorability numbers are only slightly negative at 33/35. The rest of the GOP folks are highly unpopular with Beck's favorability at 31/41, Palin's at 38/52, and Gingrich's at 30/50.

Read the whole thing...