A newly released Public Policy Polling (D) survey shows that in Colorado, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, a generic Republican opponent is leading President Obama in the 2012 presidential race. He trails by five points in Colorado, 50-45%, 10 points in Pennsylvania, 52%-42%, and 14 points in New Hampshire.
The survey also looked at blue states California, Connecticut, and Illinois, where the president is found ahead. He leads 50%-42% in Connecticut, 51-44% in California, and 49%-45% in Illinois.
When considering results from all six of these states, the pollster concludes that “President Obama’s margin for re-election against a generic Republican opponent has fallen by an average of over 18 points since his actual 2008 victories in those states. He beat John McCain in these six states by an average of almost 17 points, but now trails by almost two.”
However, the pollster is quick to note that “these results come among the significantly more Republican electorate that turned out to vote against his party a week ago than the voters he will ask to re-up him for another four years.”
Considering the 2012 Republican presidential primary in these six states, the survey of “typical Republican primary voters” finds strong showings from former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) and former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR):
- In New Hampshire, Romney leads the field by a significant margin, earning 40% versus Huckabee’s 13%, while former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) earn 10%.
- In California, Romney polls at 25%, compared to Palin’s 18% and Gingrich and Huckabee’s 15%.
- In Colorado, the former Massachusetts governor leads with 22%, versus Gingrich and Palin’s 17%, and Huckabee’s 14%.
- Connecticut is found favoring Romney as well with 28%, while Huckabee polls at 15%, Gingrich at 14%, and Palin at 11%.
- Huckabee leads Illinois with 18%, as Gingrich earns 17%, Palin polls at 14%, and Romney trails with 12%
- Pennsylvania looks fondly on the former Arkansas governor as well, with his 23% outdoing Romney and Palin’s 16%, and Gingrich’s 15%.
Potential candidates Mitch Daniels, Tim Pawlenty, Mike Pence, and John Thune fail to earn double-digits in any of the six surveyed states.
