By Samira Sadeque
A Quinnipiac University poll revealed Monday morning that the forecast for the 2012 presidential election may not be the sunniest for either President Barack Obama or his Democratic party.
The poll showed that 49% of respondents would deny Obama a second term, while 43% said they believe he deserves another four years in office. Those surveyed said they expect Obama to be challenged by former Republican Governors Mike Huckabee (Ark.) and Mitt Romney (Mass.). According to the poll, the President currently has an eight-point lead over Sarah Palin, whom 40% of those surveyed said they would vote for.
“The Democratic base remains squarely behind President Barack Obama when it comes to his re-election,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “But his weakness among Independent voters at this point makes his 2012 election prospects uncertain.”
Most of those who identified themselves as Republicans said they would prefer either Romney, Huckabee, Palin, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, or former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to run in 2012. While the poll shows that Obama would defeat Huckabee and Mitch Daniels, he trails Romney by one point. According to Brown, Palin is the GOP’s “worst” matchup against Obama.
“She is very unpopular among Independents, and although she recently said she thought she could defeat Obama, the data does not now necessarily support that assertion.”
Brown added that voters’ opinions of Palin are “not encouraging for her candidacy.”
Other data from the poll shows Obama’s favorability rating split at 48%. The President has a lower favorability rating among Independents, with 52% saying they disapprove of him.
“The best thing Obama has going for him when it comes to his re-election may be that at this point the Republicans don’t have a candidate who is both nationally well-known and well-liked by a majority of voters,” Brown said.