Huckabee shines in recent polls

In a CNN Poll, Mike Huckabee is the top choice among potential Republican Presidential candidates:

Huckabee 24%
Romney 20%
Palin 15%
Gingrich 14%
Paul 8%
Santorum 3%
Pawlenty 2%
Pence 2%
Barbour 1%

The poll was based on interviews with 1,008 adult Americans, including 907 registered voters, conducted by telephone by Opinion Research Corporation on April 9-11, 2010. The margin of sampling error for results based on the total sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points and for registered voters is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Meanwhile, In the monthly Public Policy Polling, Huckabee edges President Obama in head-to-head match up 47-45.

Mitt Romney also beats the President, 45-44.

Newt Gingrich ties President Obama at 45-45, and Sarah Palin just barely trails him 47-45.

All four of the potential GOP candidates are basically tied with the President, but Huckabee does the best.

Also of interest: Huckabee is apparently setting up residence in Florida. That might give him a heads up in the primary in 2012 in that key state. If Marco Rubio, whom Huckabee is backing, wins the Senate race there, it will also increase Huckabee's chances in Florida - and among Hispanic voters.