Palin supremely popular among Limbaugh, Beck followers

While Sarah Palin is in a tightly bunched pack in early 2012 Republican presidential polls, she has a clear lead over her rivals among the conservatives who listen to Rush Limbaugh and watch Glenn Beck, according to a new poll.

Several recent surveys have shown the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate, former Alaska governor, and now best-selling author in the vicinity of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Those same surveys showed most Americans don't believe she's qualified to be president.

But in the new Washington Post poll published today, Palin is ahead of GOP competitors on who best represents the party's core values -- and way ahead on that question among followers of talk show hosts Limbaugh and Beck.

Overall, 18 percent of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents picked Palin as the person most representative of GOP values. Among Limbaugh listeners, Palin was named by 48 percent, and among Beck viewers, 35 percent, the poll found.

Palin, who is in midst of a book tour that resembles a political campaign, also leads the Republican field for 2012, but with only 17 percent. That support is far higher, 45 percent, among regular Limbaugh listeners and 33 percent among loyal Beck followers.