Sarah Palin Trails Barack Obama In 2012 Poll By Just Five Points

From Huff Post: Sarah Palin Trails Barack Obama In 2012 Poll By Just Five Points

According to a new poll, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin trails President Barack Obama by just five points in the 2012 election race.

Though Palin has not officially announced her candidacy, the McClatchy-Marist poll shows that 44 percent of Americans would vote for her as president, just behind 49 percent who favor Obama.

The same poll, however, also shows 72 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents opposing a run by Palin.

There has been much speculation about a Palin presidential run, fueled by her bus tour this summer along the East Coast and recent appearances in Iowa.

Several political figures have spoken out about a potential Palin campaign. Former George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove said Palin's stops in Iowa and other key states pointed to a likely run for the presidency.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said it would be a "good thing" for Palin to enter the race.

"She would make the race that much more exciting, bring more people to watch the debates, and I hope she gets in," he told USA Today.

Though Palin originally said she would decide on a presidential run by the end of September, she told Fox News' Sean Hannity on Tuesday she had postponed her decision until November.