Obama with solid lead

A new Public Policy Polling survey shows Barack Obama leading the three best-known GOP prospects in a general election.

a. Barack Obama 49% Mitt Romney 42%

b. Barack Obama 51% Newt Gingrich 37%

c. Barack Obama 54% Sarah Palin 37%

Favorable Ratings:

a. Mitt Romney 35%/48% for -13%.

b. Sarah Palin 30%/63% for -33%.

c. Newt Gingrich 19%/64% for -45%.

Barack Obama's approval rating is 48%/48%.

The Obama vs. Romney race is probably closer, since 10% of Republicans remain undecided in the matchup. Most of that number would break for Romney. Only 5% of Dems are undecided about Obama.

Meanwhile, in a Palin vs. Obama matchup, 19% of Republicans swing to Obama, she currently only takes 68% in her party. She'd undoubtedly raise that number in the heat of a general election, but it's still a relatively low number to work her way up from.

Newt Gingrich's favorability numbers are terrible, but he still manages to perform better than Palin against Obama.