Below The Beltway

At least according to the latest data from Public Policy Polling poll

Our fifth monthly national survey matching up Barack Obama against some possible 2012 opponents comes to the same two primary conclusions as the other four:

1) Obama leads all comers
2) Mike Huckabee, at least at this early stage, is the strongest GOP candidate

In this particular iteration of the poll, Huckabee comes the closest to Obama that he has yet, trailing just 47-44. That’s tightened since the President led 48-42 a month ago.

Huckabee also has the best overall favorability rating of the Republican quartet we tested, at 45/28

By comparison, the other hypothetical matchups are far more advantageous for Obama:

1. In a match-up against Newt Gingrich, Obama leads with 49%, Gingrich has 41%, and 10% are undecided
2. In a match-up against Mitt Romney, Obama leads with 47%, Romney has 40%, and 12% are undecided
3. In a match-up against Sarah Palin, Obama leads with 52%, Palin has 38%, and 10% are undecided

Huckabee also comes out on top among his fellow Republicans as the candidate with the highest favorability rating:

In addition to coming the closest to Obama, Huckabee also has the best favorability rating of the group. 45% of voters have a positive opinion of him to just 28% unfavorable. The other Republican with a net positive rating, at 37/34, is Mitt Romney.
A plurality of voters have a negative opinion of both Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich. For the former Alaska Governor it’s 49% unfavorable to 40% favorable, and for the one time Speaker of the House it’s 42% unfavorable to 33% favorable.

As much as it pains me, Mike Huckabee seems to be well-positioned for 2012 at this point.

H/T: Hot Air