PPP Poll Finds Mike Huckabee Leading in Iowa

Public Policy Polling, a firm with connections to national Democrats, released a new poll on Tuesday that showed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who moved to the Sunshine State last year, is the favorite to win the Iowa caucus if he decides to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

Huckabee, who won the caucus in 2008, topped the poll with 30 percent. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who placed second back in 2008, remained in that position with 18 percent. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was in third with 15 percent. followed by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 13 percent. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas was in fifth place at 6 percent followed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota at 4 percent, U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota with 3 percent and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels at 1 percent.

The poll of 494 Republicans in the Hawkeye State was taken between Jan. 7-9 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.