Huckabee passes Palin in 2012 poll

In a very early read on the potential GOP presidential field for 2012, new poll results out this morning put former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee at the head of the pack.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey found former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in second, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in third, and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty a distant fourth among Republicans, who were asked who they were most likely to support.

Huckabee, up to 32 percent from 26 percent in February, passed Palin, down to 25 percent from 29 percent. Romney stayed at 21 percent. Pawlenty, who just recently formed a political action committee that is often a precursor to a campaign, wasn't in the February poll.

While Huckabee, Romney, and Pawlenty all have higher favorable numbers than unfavorable, Palin is at 42 percent favorable and 51 percent unfavorable.

And while Palin -- the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2008 and a political lightning rod -- is seen as not a typical politician, a good role model for women, honest, and caring about issues important to respondents, only 29 percent said they believe she is qualified to be president.

The poll, conducted Oct. 16-18, has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, and a margin of error among Republicans of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.