Perry's national poll numbers worse than Palin's

Voters dislike Texas Gov. Rick Perry even more than former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, according to a national survey conducted by Public Policy Polling.

Favorability ratings of Perry tanked in the last month, with only 23 percent of voters having a favorable opinion of him compared to 57 percent with a negative opinion. His favorability ratings are even worse with independents. Sixty-two percent of them have an unfavorable opinion of the Republican presidential candidate.

The last time Palin was polled nationally, in August, her favorability spread was 32 percent to 62 percent. She that she wouldn't run for president in 2012.

In a hypothetical presidential race between Barack Obama and Perry, 49 percent said they would vote for Obama and 40 percent said they would vote for Perry. Eleven percent were undecided.

Mitt Romney was the only Republican presidential candidate to not have a wide electability gap against Obama, according to the poll.

A hypothetical race between Obama and Romney was tied, with 45 percent saying they would vote for Obama and 45 percent saying they would vote for Romney. Ten percent were undecided.

“The electability gap in the Republican field has widened,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Mitt Romney would make it a toss up but any other candidate would start out well behind Barack Obama.”

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore