Obama needs Palin on the same ticket to win Arizona in 2012

Arizona (US), Feb.3 (ANI): US President Barack Obama's best hope of winning the Grand Canyon State of Arizona, according to a new poll, lies in him having former Alaska Republican Governor Sarah Palin on the same ticket when general elections take place in 2012.

Democrats have taken Arizona in only one presidential race since 1952.

The survey by Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling, according to Politico, found Obama topping Palin 49 percent to 41 percent in the state.

That's significantly better than he fares against other candidates. Obama trails Mitt Romney by 6 points, Mike Huckabee by 4 points, and is locked in a tie with Newt Gingrich.

Distaste for Palin, home-state Sen. John McCain's 2008 running mate, drives Obama's lead, according to the poll. While 51 percent of Arizonans disapprove of Obama's job performance, 57 percent have an unfavorable view of Palin.

The survey 599 voters had a sampling error of four percent. (ANI)