If the choice for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 comes down to a choice between Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, Huckabee has a slight edge.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Republican voters finds that 44% prefer Huckabee, 39% favor Romney, and 17% are not sure.

Data released yesterday showed that Huckabee and Romney lead all hopefuls in an early look at the 2012 race. Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich also attract double-digit support.

Both Huckabee and Romney are viewed favorably by 78% of Republican voters. However, intensity leans a bit in Huckabee’s favor. Forty-six percent (46%) have a Very Favorable opinion of the former Arkansas governor and current Fox News host. Just 34% have such positive feelings about Romney.

In their head-to-head match-up, the two candidates are essentially even among men while Huckabee leads among women. The two men are close among those who attend church or religious services two-to-three times a month. Romney does better among those who attend less while Huckabee does better among more frequent churchgoers.

Republican voters are very confident their nominee could be the next president of the United States. Eighty-one percent (81%) of the GOP faithful say that it’s at least somewhat likely the Republican nominee will defeat President Obama in 2012. Fifty percent (50%) say it’s Very Likely.

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