Generic Republican Up By 4 Over Obama

Of course, generic Republicans don't run for president, so when an actual name is plugged in the numbers probably won't be this good (from Rasmussen):

A generic Republican candidate now holds a four-point lead over President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup. It's the fifth week in a row that the GOP candidate has been ahead and the widest gap between the candidates to date.


The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds a generic Republican candidate earns support from 46% of Likely U.S. Voters, while the president picks up 42% of the vote. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and nine percent (9%) are undecided.

When you put a real name in the survey the numbers are going to change. If the nominee is Mitt Romney I'm not sure the GOP would still lead. If it turns out to be Rick Perry, it could be GOP+10.