Pawlenty is top GOP presidential pick in Minnesota, but by slimmest of margins

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Gov. Tim Pawlenty is the top pick to become the 2012 GOP presidential nominee for 19 percent of typical Republican primary voters in Minnesota, according to a new survey by Public Policy Polling. Pawlenty narrowly edges out former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who was the top pick of 18 percent of respondents. In a memo announcing the survey results, Public Policy Polling states that Pawlenty “has nothing to brag about in his home state.”

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee received support from 14 percent of those surveyed, while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney each received backing from 11 percent of likely voters.

In neighboring Wisconsin, Pawlenty was the top pick of eight percent of respondents, trailing behind four other Republicans (Palin, Huckabee, Romney and Gingrich) thought to be weighing a 2012 run. In the four other states surveyed by Public Policy Polling — Florida, Maine, Texas and West Virginia — Pawlenty failed to garner support from more than four percent of respondents.