Ron Sachs Communications/Mason-Dixon Florida Poll Finds President Obama Trailing Govs. Romney, Huckabee

~Romney leads pack of Republican Presidential hopefuls~

Tallahassee, FL – Former Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee would win Florida’s 29 electoral votes over President Barack Obama if the 2012 Presidential election were held today, according to the results of a new statewide Ron Sachs Communications/Mason-Dixon Poll released Monday.

“President Obama’s hopes for reelection will either be warmed or eclipsed by the ‘Sunshine State,’” said Ron Sachs, president and CEO of Ron Sachs Communications who commissioned the poll. “Already, it’s clear that he has considerable work to do to make his incumbency an asset, rather than a liability, in a Florida that has drifted more conservative than even four years ago.”

In head-to-head matchups between hypothetical Republican nominees and President Obama, Governor Romney leads with 48 percent to 43 percent for President Obama.  Governor Huckabee leads with 49 percent to 44 percent for President Obama.  The President leads against all other Republican hopefuls included in the poll.

The poll, which was conducted April 4 through April 7 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, also found Governor Romney leading with 23 percent support among a sample size of 400 likely Republican primary voters.  In what seems to be developing into a crowded Republican primary field, 13 candidates were included in the poll, including Governor Mike Huckabee, real estate magnate Donald Trump, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Governor Tim Pawlenty and others.

“Governor Mitt Romney is the early favorite – most likely benefiting from his high name recognition following his 2008 Presidential run,” said Mason-Dixon Managing Director Brad Coker. “As more candidates announce and more voters begin paying attention, expect the race in Florida to become much more competitive.”

Among the poll’s key findings:

• 43 percent approve of President Obama’s performance as President while 51 percent disapprove.
• Governor Romney receives 48 percent to President Obama’s 43 percent in a hypothetical matchup.
• Governor Huckabee receives 49 percent to President Obama’s 44 percent in a hypothetical matchup.
• President Obama would receive 48 percent of the vote against former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who would receive 39 percent.

• President Obama would receive 48 percent of the vote against Donald Trump, who would receive 40 percent.

In a hypothetical Republican primary contest, the Sachs/Mason-Dixon Poll shows:

• Mitt Romney received 23 percent.
• Mike Huckabee received 18 percent.
• Donald Trump received 13 percent.
• Newt Gingrich received 11 percent.
• Tim Pawlenty received 8 percent.
• Sarah Palin received 5 percent.
• Mitch Daniels received 4 percent.
• Ron Paul received 3 percent.
• Michelle Bachman received 1 percent.
• Rick Santorum received 1 percent.
• Haley Barbour received no votes with 13 percent of the voters undecided.

The Sachs/Mason-Dixon Poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.  A total of 800 registered voters were interviewed statewide by telephone. All respondents stated they vote regularly in state elections.

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