Republicans Already Rejecting Haley Barbour, Tim Pawlenty

Via Greg Sargent, the Rasmussen Reports poll on 2012 Republican candidates finds most Republican voters trusting Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) on national security and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) on the economy. Another item from the poll: the possible candidates that have been getting a lot of friendly coverage are less popular than media punching bags Palin and Dick Cheney. Look at the seven potential candidates and their favorable/unfavorable ratings.

Mike Huckabee – 78/19

Sarah Palin – 76/21

Mitt Romney – 73/19

Newt Gingrich – 65/29

Dick Cheney – 59/34

Tim Pawlenty – 38/35

Haley Barbour – 34/37

Both Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) and Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.), beltway favorites who the political press sees as fresh faces for 2012, are less popular among Republicans than Dick Cheney. I’ve asked Scott Rasmussen why he thinks this is and will update when he responds.