Fox polls 2012 prospects

Fox News releases a new national poll (pdf) showing favorable numbers for front-running 2012 prospects.

Breaking it down:

a. Sarah Palin w/all registered voters: 47% fav 42% unfav, +5%.

b. Palin w/Dems: 25%/62%, -37%.

c. Palin w/Republicans: 70%/21%, +49%.

d. Palin w/Indies: 49%/38%, +11%.

The immediate reaction to these surprisingly high poll numbers (considering other recent polls, see here) is that it's a Fox poll; therefore favorable to Palin. But before dismissing, note that Palin's splits were 38%/51% in July, which means she's moved up substantially.

a. Mike Huckabee w/all: 45$/23$, +22$.

b. Huck w/Dems: 28$/30$, -2$.

c. Huck w/Repubs: 63$/15$, +48$.

d. Huck w/Indies: 44$/28$, +16$.

I replaced all Huck's percentage signs with dollar signs, because that's how money he's been in polls (also, the $ is right next to the % on the keyboard).

He's a polling demon, and he now equals Palin among Republicans (+49% SP; +48% Huck). Maybe he's not the front-runner on paper, but he's the front-runner with people.

That's been established over and over again this year.

a. Mitt Romney w/all: 38%/27%, +11%.

b. Mitt w/Dems: 20%/36%, -16%.

c. Mitt w/Repubs: 60%/16%, +44%.

d. Mitt w/Indies: 35%/34%, +1%.

Romney's right up there among Republicans w/Palin and Huck, but his unknowns are higher among all groups, as should be expected considering his relative quiet.

a. Newt Gingrich w/all: 38%/38%.

b. Newt w/Dems: 19%/54%, -35%.

c. Newt w/Repubs: 58%/23%, +35%.

d. Newt w/Indies: 38%/40%, -2%.

Newt's numbers (along with Palin's) seem abnormally high against the backdrop of recent polling. Palin fans will say this is the truest measure of the electorate out there. Palin detractors will say it's an obvious outlier.

One more thing: Independents think Palin's been treated unfairly, 65%-27%. That's a big gap.

[Hat tip: Pollster.com]