Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in Des Moines last year.

Huckabee, who won the 2008 Iowa Caucuses, is viewed favorably by 70 percent of Republicans. That outpaces Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who is viewed favorably by 60 percent of Republicans. Former Massachussetts governor and 2008 caucus runner-up Mitt Romney comes in at 58 percent.

When all voters are factored in, Huckabee’s favorability rating falls to 54 percent, with 22 percent unfavorable. Palin’s favorability falls to 37 percent, with 55 percent unfavorable. Romney comes in at 40 percent favorable and 32 percent unfavorable.

Should Huckabee or Palin decide to enter the 2012 Republican presidential primary, these numbers would put them in the front of the pack.

The Iowa Poll also looked at Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former New York Gov. George Pataki.

Hi, AKM!

I wanted to let you know that I just received an interesting phone call.  It was an automated poll and it asked the following questions:

1. Do you have a favorable opinion of Sarah Palin?

2. Gov. Palin thinks A, B, C, D & E do you agree with Gov. Palin?

3. Do you feel it is important that Gov. Palin is reelected as Gov. of Alaska?

What do you make of that?

It is no surprise that some people are already interested in the next presidential campaign — or that there are already polls in the field.  The list of potential candidates is long, and each of them will have some important decisions to make about their political futures well before 2012 draws near.

Notably, some of the governors whose names are mentioned as possible candidates will have to decide whether to run for reelection in 2010.  Put Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal into that category with Palin.  The three of them might find it awkward to run for reelection as governor with all of their state’s voters asking whether they still even want the job.

Then there’s South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.  Sanford was the first governor to loudly reject federal stimulus money that was appropriated for his state, but Jindal and Palin both followed suit.

It may seem obvious that the Palin poll would be commissioned and paid for by a committee connected to the Alaskan, but it isn’t.

This far out from an election, polling is very difficult, and anybody who is considering running for president might find the results of a poll about Palin more useful than a poll about themselves.  If a recorded voice called you up and started asking whether you thought Pawlenty should run for reelection as governor, would you even know whom it was talking about?

Another reason not to read too much into this: automated, touch-tone phone polls are cheap and not considered very reliable.  Whoever commissioned this poll must still be in the very early stages of a campaign.  Once the live calls start, the race will have actually begun.

Jindal was asked if he would be was interested in being president, to which he simply replied “No.”

He elaborated that he intends to run for re-election as Louisiana’s governor. He did not preclude the prospect of changing his mind, however.

The 37-year-old first-term governor visited Iowa last month, sparking speculation that he was laying the ground work for a presidential run in four years.

Louisana Gov. Bobby Jindal told recently flood-ravaged Cedar Rapidians of his experiences during the Louisiana hurricanes. By and large, Jindal left politics at the door.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal told the press not to read anything into his first trip to Iowa, and, in a Saturday morning presentation in Cedar Rapids, the Republican kept his focus on one thing: flood recovery.

But while the possible contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 avoided much explicit talk of politics, his speech heavily emphasized his conservative ideology.

Jindal warned Iowans and other Americans facing recovery after a natural disaster not to depend on government agencies.

“Simply, people matter more than regulations and red tape,” Jindal said to the roughly 200 people in attendance at the flood recovery meeting. The audience, many many of whom operate businesses that were devastated or damaged by the June floods, answered with applause.

“Whenever there is a decision that has to be made between a well-intentioned government regulation and the immediate needs of people, always side with people,” said Jindal, who was elected governor in 2007, after his state was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and a poor government response in the storm’s aftermath.

After telling a story of how a sheriff in Louisiana had to battle bureaucracy to continue rescuing people following a hurricane, Jindal summarized: “You don’t succeed by waiting for FEMA to tell you what to do. You tell them what you need. We didn’t want for the federal government to tell us what to do. We had a game plan.”

Jindal warned those facing recovery in Iowa that the end comes long after “the national press has moved on to the next thing,” and that the best thing public officials could do is to communicate with citizens throughout the recovery process.

“Transparency inspires confidence, and confidence promotes cohesion,” he said.

In his next breath, Jindal turned back to the overall theme of government response being less adequate than private sector alternatives.

“The government is crucial, but the private sector is too,” he said. “In too many instances, in many instances, a motivated private entity can move faster than a public entity. As leaders we need to enable that to happen.”

Jindal gave several examples of how companies, nonprofits and other entities were able to help in Louisiana in the days, weeks and months following the hurricanes. He also discussed unkept promises by government agencies.

“I’m not here to beat up on our federal partners,” Jindal said. “Look, we’ve got to acknowledge that their response was better in 2008 than it was in 2005, and we certainly hope it will be better next time there is a disaster whether that is in Louisiana or Iowa or another state. It’s not about pointing fingers. It’s not about saying they didn’t get it done, or this one didn’t get it done. It’s about making sure that you are adaptable and you are flexible. … You’ve got to be ready to partner with the private sector, with the faith-based groups and with others,” he continued.

“At the end of the day, your people really don’t care whether it is a FEMA-delivered MRE or whether it is an American Cross-cooked hot meal. All they really want to know is how they can get some help to get back on their feet so they can rebuild their lives.”

Jindal said early in his speech that as soon as the floods hit, he called Iowa Gov. Chet Culver. “When you faced flooding, I immediately called your governor to offer our assistance. I know that our recovery authority talked with your rebuilding organization.”

He closed his comments by saying that “sometimes it is better to ask for forgiveness, not permission — especially when dealing with federal bureaucracy.”

“It wouldn’t be enough to come and tell you about our response to the storms without telling you how impressed I am with our people,” he said. “… I think the true heroes in these storms — it’s not the government. It’s not the federal government, state government or local government. It’s really our people.”

With that in mind, the Sioux City Journal asked 11 Republican county chairs in the conservative stronghold of northwest Iowa whom they hoped would be victorious, proving that in Iowa it is always a presidential election year.

1. Mitt Romney

Why: The former Massachusetts Governor and CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City was essentially the runner-up in 2008.

What they said: “(Romney) is just a genius when it comes to finances, and our country desperately needs that experience.” — Clay County GOP Chairman George Moriarity of Spencer

2. Sarah Palin

Why: The young Alaska governor was a popular force among base conservatives as John McCain’s running mate.

What they said: “I believe that (Palin) is a woman of integrity and great talent. … She has a gift, a brightness to her, a freshness that we haven’t seen in a long time.” — Emmet County GOP Chairwoman Debra Satern of Estherville

3. Bobby Jindal

Why: The Louisiana governor, at 36 the youngest governor in the United States, offers a fresh face and conservative credentials.

What they said: “(Jindal) has got a good (life) story. He’s an up-and-coming, energetic guy, and he’s a good communicator.” — Woodbury County GOP Chairman Kevin Alons of Salix

4. Mike Huckabee

Why: Huckabee rode a wave of support in Iowa, especially in Sioux County, to a caucus win and appeals to evangelical Christian conservatives.

What they said: “I think we need some new, young, energetic leadership — conservative, but new.” — Lyon County GOP Chairman John Fluit Jr. of Inwood

County chairs were asked to select three, and rankings were tabulated by assigning three points for a top pick, two points for a second and one point for third.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a rising star in the national Republican Party, will keynote a fundraising dinner for the Iowa Family Policy Center’s “Celebrating the Family” banquet, fueling speculation of a potential run for president in 2012.

The governor’s spokeswoman, Melissa Sellers, told The Associated Press that Jindal will attend the Nov. 22 event and also will make a stop in the Cedar Rapids area to see some of the recent flooding damage there.

This will be Jindal’s first trip to Iowa.

The Iowa Family Policy Center’s President, Chuck Hurley, told The Des Moines Register that he isn’t sure if the visit is linked to any presidential ambitions.

“I think it’s intriguing, but I don’t want to speculate,” said Iowa Family Policy Center President Chuck Hurley. “I haven’t talked to him about anything beyond our immediate goal of honoring families and having a strong speaker at our banquet.”

The 37-year-old first-term governor was widely speculated to be on Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s short list for vice president. His trip to Iowa will take place just weeks after the presidential election is complete.

For their part, McCain’s Iowa team is quick to point out that their candidate is going to win in November, making the discussion of a 2012 campaign moot.

“Since John McCain will be elected in a few weeks, I assume it could be interpreted as a possible 2016 candidate,” [Iowa campaign Chairman Dave] Roederer said. “I don’t think I would read too much into it.”

Obama, who announced his candidacy in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln and who is pledging a governing style straight out of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s landmark Lincoln book, “A Team Of Rivals,” will look in predictable places for his running mate but may surprise the nation with an unknown, or dare we say, perhaps even a Republican.

Having followed Obama closely for more than a year, here is my Top 10 list of vice presidential candidates Obama should consider:

1. Chris Dodd. I have had the theory that Dodd would make a strong running mate for Obama should the Illinois senator get the Democratic nomination — even though this would run counter to conventional wisdom about picking a vice presidential candidate from a key state (Florida or Ohio) or going with a Southerner or Latino.

As I reported earlier, Dr. Steven Kraus of Carroll observed something several weeks ago at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner: Dodd, a U.S. senator from Connecticut, and Obama clearly have respect for each other.

Dodd is simply a classy senator who can answer questions with reliable competency. Yes, the Southwest likely will determine the 2008 election, and sure, a Richardson vice presidential nomination makes sense because of this. But Dodd is fluent in Spanish as I saw firsthand when Lorena Lopez of La Prensa and I conducted a joint interview with him. If Obama gets the nomination, Dodd complements him in a number of ways as a running mate — including his ability to campaign in Spanish.

Dodd won’t make mistakes out there and with his reassuring white hair, the elder statesman would be a nice balance for Obama. Youth and wisdom. Age and experience.

2. Richard Lugar. Yes, Lugar is 76, and obviously, he is a Republican. But Obama mentions him frequently as Lugar, a Hoosier State senator, has served as something of a mentor to Obama, 30 years his junior. With serious foreign policy credentials and ice-veined competence, Lugar would signal that Obama is governing in the here and now — or the “fierce urgency of now,” a quote he often borrows from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Obama could reach to the GOP and independents with the argument that he’s not looking to set up succession for the party.

3. Ed Rendell. The Democratic governor of Pennsylvania makes sense from several strategic angles. He’s in a swing state. He’s an effective campaigner so he could knock heads around while Obama stays on the high road. Then there are the optics. With a paunchy countenance and the old-school girth of gut, Rendell, who is white, is the perfect counterbalance to Obama. Finally, Rendell has a major advantage over many white potential VPs. He understands racial politics as he has experience dealing with Philadelphia and large cities with high minority populations so he is less likely to walk into a racial minefield (or take Obama into one) than, say, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who just didn’t have that much experience dealing with diversity.

4. Warren Buffett. The Oracle of Omaha is 76, but as the economy becomes a bigger issue, why not select the smartest guy in the room when it comes to money? Buffett is beloved by Republicans (for helping make them money) and liberals (for giving his away). Late last year, Forbes magazine reported that Buffett was worth $52 billion. This means that if he didn’t get funding for one of his initiatives he could conceivably just do it himself … which raises issues both fascinating and troubling.

5. Kathleen Sebelius. The two-term governor of Kansas (that’s “What’s The Matter With Kansas” Kansas) has done well with Republicans and independents. She’ll deliver the response to George W.’s State Of The Union speech on Jan. 28. There’s a personal angle here that’s intriguing. Obama’s family is from Kansas — on his mother’s side. The full circle element of Obama selecting a Kansas woman as his running mate is a marketing dream. Plus, an Obama-Sebelius team would be a ticket of true change — as well as one that is Plains States-Midwest friendly. Look for this pick to move higher.

6. Wesley Clark. When the retired general was in Carroll, Iowa, stumping for Hillary Clinton a few weeks ago, I spoke with him for about 45 minutes. He should have campaigned here in 2004. He likely would be president now if he had. Clark is as whip smart as Obama and has the foreign policy and military credentials to burnish this ticket. The only issue: they are both similar in personality. Could clash.

7. John Edwards. Could he do for Obama what he couldn’t for John Kerry? You have to keep Edwards on the list if for no other reason than a future political (FDR-Truman-like) deal may make this selection a quid pro quo. Both Edwards and Obama are saying no to PAC money and could run as a ticket not wedded to special interests. Edwards also seems to relish the role of attack dog, and surely will not make the same mistakes he did in 2004 when he was easy foil for Dick Cheney.

8. Bill Richardson. Isn’t he vice president already? He’s been referenced so many times that Richardson could be forgiven for adding this to his resume. Yes, the Latin vote is vital, and the election may be decided in the Southwest. Can America accept a black man and an Hispanic on the same ticket? I think the answer is yes. He’s great on the stump and appeals to white rural voters. I see that up close and personal here in Iowa. He’s also damned funny.

9. Ken Salazar. Continuing on the Latino angle, we have to include U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado, a Democrat who can appeal to white rural voters. (He ranches). He’s a former state attorney general and could make an excellent point man on the environment.

10. Bobby Jindal. The new Republican governor of Louisiana, at only age 36, is the son of Indian immigrants and the first Indian-American elected as governor. He has been compared to Obama for the obvious barrier-shattering reasons but also because of his intellect and spectacular educational pedigree. He is much more likely to be Obama’s opponent (should there be an Obama presidency) in four years than a VP now. But the possibilities are intriguing should Obama reach out to a Republican. This ticket would excite young voters, win over never-before voters, draw in Republicans and independents — and very likely do a great deal for Obama with Latinos. If I’m Jindal, though, I spend the next decade rebuilding my state and then run for the presidency myself, on my own terms.

Still, this is the most thought-provoking selection to consider.

Here is what The New Orleans Times-Picayune says about Jindal:

Every inauguration begins with lofty language but few hold as much promise as Gov. Jindal’s. The 36-year-old, Oxford-educated chief executive is a new generation of leader. Unlike most recent governors, he is not a product of the Legislature. He has worked inside state government but has been in Washington representing the 1st Congressional District.

  And a Yahoo message board dealt with the potential of him running as a Republican VP candidate.