Huckabee, Romney lead poll of Iowa Republicans

Among Iowa Republican voters, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is the favorite to win in 2012, according to a poll conducted by a New Jersey firm.

Huckabee, who hosts a Fox News show, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney finished 1-2 - just as they did in the 2008 caucuses - in the poll of 556 Iowa Republican primary voters who said their chances of participating in the 2012 caucuses were “very likely” or “definite.

Huckabee was the first choice of 24 percent of the respondents and Romney received 19 percent. Among those who said they would definitely attend the 2012 caucuses, Huckabee polled 22 percent to Romney's 21 percent.

In both cases, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin finished third - 11 percent among all respondents and 13 percent among definite caucusgoers, according to Neighborhood Research Corp. of New Jersey. She had the highest name identification, at 100 percent.

They were followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and U.S. Reps. Ron Paul of Texas and Michelle Bachman of Minnesota with 4 percent, 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively, among all of those surveyed.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percent.