Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate in 2008, leads his potential opponents in the 2012 Republican primaries, according to a new Rasmussen poll (Oct. 15, 750 GOP LV, MoE +/- 4%).

With just less than three years to go until the party nominating conventions, Huckabee leads former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, 2008 vice presdiential nominee Sarah Palin, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Huckabee 29
Romney 24
Palin 18
Gingrich 14
Pawlenty 4
Someone Else 6
Und 7

Who would voters least like to see win the nomination? Twenty-eight percent said Pawlenty, 21% Palin, 20% Gingrich, 9% Romney and 8% Huckabee.

Republican voters appear rather confident in their chances against President Obama in 2012. About eight in 10 say it's at least somewhat likely a Republican will defeat Obama, with 50% saying it's "very likely" and 31% say "somewhat likely." A total of just 12% say it's not very likely or not likely at all.