Poll shows growing Dem support for second Obama term

Seventy-eight percent of Democrats want President Obama renominated for a second term, the highest his support has been this year, according to a new poll. 

A CNN/Opinion Research survey shows Democratic backing for a second Obama term jumped 5 percent from late October, just before his midterm "shellacking," when it was at 73 percent.

The numbers look good compared to the last Democratic president. Only 57 percent of Democrats wanted Bill Clinton renominated in the days after the 1994 Republican Revolution. Clinton went on to defeat Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) in the 1996 presidential elections. 

The level of support suggests a primary challenge against the 44th president is likely to fail. 

Political observers have speculated that Obama could receive a primary opponent due to dissatisfaction on the left, which went into an uproar over Obama's decision to cut a deal with Senate Republicans that extended the Bush tax cuts for two years. The left was also disappointed that the administration did not push more strongly for a public insurance option in the new healthcare law.

But so far, no potential candidate has taken the bait. One possible challenger, self-described democratic-socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), bowed out last week, saying, "Ain't gonna do it." 

Opinion Research also asked Republicans to rate whom they are most likely to support among Obama's possible GOP challengers. 

Out of four GOP candidates, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee received the most support, with 67 percent saying they are either very likely or somewhat likely to support him if he decides to run.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came in second with 59 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) received 54 percent support and 49 percent said they were likely to support former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Fifty-one percent said they were not very likely or not likely at all to back her.

None of the potential candidates have officially announced they are entering the race.

Opinion Research polled 470 Democrats and 470 Republicans, with each sample having a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.

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