Donald Trump virtually tied with Obama in 2012 poll
A shocking new Newsweek/Daily Beast poll finds billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump a mere 2 points behind President Barack Obama in a hypothetical 2012 head-to-head match-up. Obama had the support of 43 percent of the public, to Trump's 41 percent -- within the poll's +/-3.5 percent margin of error. The president led Republican 2012 hopefuls and former governors Sarah Palin by 11 points (51-40), Mitt Romney by 2 points (49-47), and was tied with Mike Huckabee (46-46). The result could be an outlier as Obama held a 14 point lead over Trump (48-34) in a recent survey by Public Policy Polling. It found that Trump had a national approval rating of only 27 percent; 56 percent disapproved. Trump, who is no serious analyst's idea of a viable Republican nominee or presidential contender, has been floated as a dark-horse candidate. The reality television star and media magnate entertained the idea by making a speech this month at the Conservative Political Action Conference, in which one media outlet said he "stole the show."