Huckabee Leads Barbour in Mississippi Poll

This may test the apparently close friendship between potential Republican presidential candidates Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. A new poll shows Huckabee faring better than Barbour against Obama in Mississippi, Politico reports.

According to a Public Policy Polling survey, Huckabee leads President Barack Obama 54 to 40 percent, or about the same margin that Republican nominee John McCain beat Obama by in 2008.

Barbour's margin over Obama is smaller -- 51 to 41 percent. Newt Gingrich holds a 48 to 42 percent edge over Obama, Mitt Romney 46 percent to 40 percent, and Sarah Palin 48 percent to 44 percent.

Huckabee also has the highest margin between those who approve of him and those who disapprove -- 51 percent to 29 percent. Barbour's job approval rating is 52 percent, but 48 percent don't want him to run for president.