Poll shows Huckabee with slim lead over Obama in theoretical 2012 face-off

A survey released Friday by a liberal pollster showed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) in a dead heat with President Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential race.

It's the first time Obama has not held a lead in Public Policy Polling's (PPP) monthly presidential tracking poll.

Huckabee led Obama by a slim, one percent margin 45-44. The poll has a margin of error of 2.8 percent.

But it's not clear if Huckabee, now a Fox News host, will enter the race. Huckabee received a spate of negative attention after it was revealed in November he granted clemency to a man who later shot dead several police officers in Washington State.

The next most popular GOP candidate was former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who trails Obama 44-42, still within the margin of error. Obama leads former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) 49-41 but is the most well liked GOP candidate among Republican voters.

“It’s a good thing for Barack Obama that he’s not up this year,” said President of Public Policy Polling Dean Debnam. “It’s a tough time to be a Democrat.”

PPP surveyed 1,151 registered voters nationally between Jan. 18-19.

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