The Hill News

Republicans would rather nominate someone who could beat President Obama in 2012 than someone who agreed with them ideologically, according to a poll released Tuesday.

The poll, conducted by CNN/Opinion Research, found that 68 percent of Republicans want someone who can defeat the president in 2012 while 29 percent want someone who shares their opinions on the issues.

The poll also found that Americans think Obama's reelection is less than a sure thing. Fifty-one percent of Americans think Obama will not be reelected while 46 think he will win a second term. Three percent didn't have an opinion.

In a list of Republican candidates, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) was the most popular.

The poll found 21 percent of Republican voters are most likely to vote for Huckabee followed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) with 19 percent, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) with 18 percent, and former House Speaker Newt Gingr! ich with ten percent. The rest of the dozen or so candidates failed to break double digits.

But those Republicans don't necessarily think Huckabee or Palin will win the nomination. The survey found that Republicans think Romney is most likely to win the nomination with 25 percent of those surveyed, followed by Palin with 24 percent. Huckabee came in third with 13 percent.

The poll comes a day after former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) told a group of Iowa religious conservatives that while he shares their beliefs, he is not against attracting supporters who don't. Pawlenty is one of a few candidates who have been tacking right in possible preparation for a 2012 presidential run.