New Q Poll: Obama Vulnerable in 2012 but GOP Field has Problems

Quinnipiac University released a poll on Monday that stated that more Americans do not think President Barack Obama deserves a second term than those who back his bid for re-election--but also found voters remain wary on potential Republican candidates. The poll found 49 percent of Americans wanting Obama out of the White House after 2012 while 43 percent want to give him a second term.

The poll had former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ahead of Obama by the skin of his teeth--45 percent to 44 percent. However Obama is ahead of other Republican candidates--beating former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 46 percent compared to the GOP candidates 44 percent. Obama crushed other Republicans in the poll--beating Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin by wide margins. While Romney and Huckabee are seen favorably, the poll found other potential Republican candidates--namely Palin and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich--were seen by those polled in an unfavorable light.

The poll also found a tight battle for the Republican nomination--with Palin, Romney, Huckabee and Gingrich fighting it out for the top spot. Palin took 19 percent, Romney 18 percent, Huckabee 17 percent and Gingrich 15 percent--with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty in fifth with 6 percent.

"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," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The poll of 2,424 registered voters was taken between November 8-15 and had a margin of error of +/- 2 percent.