Rick Perry Beats Barack Obama in 2012 Matchup

A new national poll released by Rasmussen Reports on Thursday found that Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, who launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in August, is ahead of President Barack Obama.

Perry took 44 percent while Obama trailed with 41 percent. Obama did better against other Republican hopefuls. He beat former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts 43 percent to 39 percent. Obama topped businessman Herman Cain, 42 percent to 35 percent. Obama had led U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who won the Iowa Republican straw poll in August, 46 percent to 38 percent.

Rasmussen released polls in late August that found U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas behind Obama by a mere 1 percent, while the president crushed former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska who has left the door open to running in 2012.

The poll of 1,000 likely voters was taken from Aug. 23-30 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.