Poll: N.J. Gov. Christie viable candidate

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie leads among 2012 GOP presidential hopefuls and is the only Republican who tops President Obama among all voters, Zogby said.

The Zogby interactive poll released Tuesday indicated Christie led among conservative Republicans with 28 percent of the vote, followed by former Govs. Sarah Palin of Alaska, with 18 percent; Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, with 15 percent; and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, with 14 percent.

Christie also led among born-again Christians with 27 percent, and polled well among moderates, drawing 23 percent. Romney led moderates with 28 percent.

If the election were held today, Christie would be favored over Obama, 43 percent to 40 percent, Zogby said.

"Christie's blunt talk about public employees and his aggressive actions on the New Jersey state budget have made him very popular both within the Republican Party and with independents," pollster John Zogby said. "His style and appearance would present quite the contrast to that of the president."

The interactive poll of 2,073 likely voters was conducted Friday through Monday. The margin of error of is 2.2 percentage points.