By FITSNews || Republican Caucus-goers in Iowa are still two years away from casting their ballots, but that’s not stopping people from spending their hard-earned money to find out what they think of the “crop” of 2012 GOP presidential candidates.
According to a new poll conducted for the website Rightosphere.com, 2008 GOP Caucus winner Mike Huckabee is currently the first choice of Iowans, while 2008 runner-up Mitt Romney is their second choice. Amazing how that works, isn’t it? “Conservative voters” favor Huckabee by a two-to-one margin over Romney, while “moderates” favor Romney by a three-to-one margin over Huckabee.
The only other candidate to register in double digits in the poll? Former GOP veep nominee Sarah Palin.
Here were the poll’s top-line results:
Among Likely Voters
* Mike Huckabee 21%
* Mitt Romney 14%
* Sarah Palin 12%
* Tim Pawlenty 1%
* Gary Johnson 0%
* Undecided 52%
Among Registered Voters
* Mike Huckabee 17%
* Mitt Romney 14%
* Sarah Palin 11%
* Tim Pawlenty 1%
* Gary Johnson 0%
* Undecided 57%
Among Conservatives
* Mike Huckabee 21%
* Mitt Romney 12%
* Sarah Palin 12%
* Tim Pawlenty 2%
* Gary Johnson 1%
* Undecided 52%
Among Moderates
* Mitt Romney 23%
* Mike Huckabee 8%
* Sarah Palin 3%
* Tim Pawlenty 2%
* Gary Johnson 0%
* Undecided 64%
How important are the Iowa Caucuses? Well, the 2008 GOP nominee – John McCain – finished fourth in Iowa two years ago. So not very …
And how important is an Iowa Caucus poll two years before the Caucuses are held? Again … not very …
This poll is measuring each candidate’s name identification, period – and only three candidates (Huckabee, Romney and Palin) are widely known to voters at the present time.
The real problem for Republicans? As far as we can tell, all three of those candidates suck …
Basically, the GOP is offering voters the following … a bible-thumper with a fiscally spotty record who likes to let murderers out of jail (Huckabee), a sound bite-spitting socialized medicine backer who has flip-flopped on every position he’s ever held (Romney) and a chronic whiner with a wafer thin record of experience who is trying to tip toe back and forth between the GOP establishment and the tea party movement (Palin).
That’s not exactly a strong bench, people …
By ManWithoutaPArty March 10, 2010 at 12:52 pm
4 more years of Obama would be welcomed over anything of those mongrels.
By Lynn March 10, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Too bad you feel that way about Huck. I’ve been watching him quite closely for some time now and have yet to see him thump a Bible. I think he will make an outstanding president and plan to do what I can to make that happen.
By countryboy March 10, 2010 at 2:24 pm
4 more years of Obama and no one in this country would be able to afford to conduct a poll.
By Mike March 10, 2010 at 3:04 pm
I think I am going to give a long look at Mitch Daniels, Gov. from Indiana. Assuming he throws his hat in the ring. He seems to be getting good press among conservatives. OMB director under W. Maybe we can forgive him for that. Seems to have put in place a market oriented health care plan that actually works.
By Joe March 10, 2010 at 4:10 pm
“4 more years of Obama would be welcomed over anything of those mongrels.”
Right….considering all that he has accomplished so far
By Cooter Brown March 10, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Too earlie, folks! At dis time in 2006 da yankee feller hoo wuz da mayor of New york city wuz at da top ov da lists.
By me March 10, 2010 at 5:09 pm
ron paul will win it. if the GOP screws him over again, he will go 3rd party and wreck their house
By Ynotfirst March 10, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Ron Paul
By Liberty fo Me March 10, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Why is Ron Paul not a choice but Gary Johnson is??.This bullshit never stops…Republicans want to elect Romney who is the first to establish government run healthcare..??.I don’t think the American people will ever wake up!!!
By countryboy March 10, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Huckabee is too cornball. Romney is too sweet. Palin’s a dingbat. The other two aren’t worth commenting on. Guess undecided gets my vote.
By countryboy March 10, 2010 at 7:24 pm
I should add, however, that I will vote for any Republican over Obama, regardless.
By fastmouth March 10, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Of all the above mentioned Republicans, I would have to pick Huckabee. He seems to me to be the most level headed of them. However, I would have to agree with Countryboy, I don’t think we can stand 4 more years of what we’ve got. Bill Clinton would be better than what we’ve got. Just my opinion.
By Truth Seeker March 10, 2010 at 11:49 pm
You folks are all loonies!
By Robert March 11, 2010 at 3:33 am
“a bible-thumper”
What a false and bigoted smear against Huckabee. Kinda low.
“who likes to let murderers out of jail”
Huckabee didn’t let any murderers out. He approved a judge requested sentence reduction with 100% parole board approval and no DA objections for a guy years before he went on to murder.
By John Steinberger March 11, 2010 at 7:05 am
Iowa likes Mike Huckabee because so many Iowans have met him. He is the best at retail politics I have ever met!