PPP: Huck 45% Obama 44%

Barack Obama trails a Republican opponent in a Public Policy Polling survey for the first time (pdf poll here; analysis here).

Hypothetical 2012 matchups:

1. Mike Huckabee 45% Barack Obama 44%

2. Barack Obama 44% Mitt Romney 42%

3. Barack Obama 49% Sarah Palin 41%

4. Barack Obama 44% David Petraeus 34%

Favs:

1. Petraeus 25%/12%

2. Huckabee 35%/29%

3. Mitt Romney 36%/32%

4. Palin 42%/51%

More Key numbers:

a. Mike Huckabee is viewed favorably by all age groups, except 30-45 year-olds, where he's at -3%.

b. Mitt Romney's viewed unfavorably by 18-29 year-olds (-6%) and 30-45 year-olds (-12%).

c. Predictably, Petraeus is viewed favorably by every age group, except 18-29 year-olds.

d. Sarah Palin is viewed unfavorably by all age groups (including a whopping -29% among 30-45 year-olds), except among 46-65 year-olds where she's at +5%.

Notes: Once again, Mike Huckabee might not be the front-runner on paper (that's Mitt's terrain), but he's certainly leading with the people, and has been at or near the top throughout 2009.

But remember Huck might not want to run, although by Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin's definition, that's exactly what this country needs -- but again, Beck and Palin's idea of a "reluctant politician" is as delusional as any Utopian ideas the Left had about Obama.

Reluctant politicians don't run for President just like reluctant high school students don't run for class President.

For her part, Sarah Palin is the only GOP candidate polled with negative favorability numbers and fairly high ones at that. The book tour was a chance for her to expand her appeal, but instead, she chose to book Sean Hannity, Rush, and Levin interviews, where in the case of the latter's echo chamber, she suggested birthers had legitimate questions before a good night's sleep forced her to back off.

It's hard to see her making any significant gains in the polls unless she sits down for a sit down with someone willing to press her.

Mitt Romney still can't get any separation, but at this point, he probably doesn't care. He's got positive favorability numbers and is building that legendary organizational structure, appearing on the right talk shows (i.e. ones from all ideological stripes), and collecting IOU's.

As for Petraeus, he's already made it clear he's not running, and as a self-described "Rockefeller Republican" wouldn't make it past the first debate.