In Alaska, Obama would beat Palin, new poll says

If the presidential election were held tomorrow and Alaskans had a choice between Barack Obama and Sarah Palin, guess who would win? A poll released Tuesday by Anchorage's Hays Research Group says it probably wouldn't be Mamma Grizzly.

Hays polled 500 "likely" Alaska voters last Tuesday and Wednesday, and found that Obama would edge out Palin by up to 9 percentage points in a hypothetical matchup -- if Obama was the Democratic candidate and if Republicans nominated Alaska's former governor.

The (hypothetical) results have Obama winning by 6 percentage points, with 42 percent of poll respondents preferring another term for him than a first term for Palin, whose support was around 36 percent.

Of the 500 Alaskans polled, 16 percent -- or 80 people -- remained undecided and wouldn't say whether they supported either candidate. And 7 percent -- or 35 respondents -- said they'd be inclined to supporting a candidate other than Obama or Palin.

Hays asked to what degree Alaskans supported either candidate, with options like strong support, not so strong support, and undecided but leaning toward one or the other.

The poll was paid for by Porcaro Communications, an advertising agency with offices in Anchorage and Vancouver, according to Adam Hays, research director for the polling firm, who called the results "certainly interesting."

Mike Porcaro also has hosts a talk radio show on KENI-AM 650.

Hays said the question was asked along with several others -- some political, others not -- in a survey of people who had voted in two of the last four local, state or national elections.

Here's the specific question: Although it is some time from now, thinking about the election for President of the United States next year, if the election were held today and the candidates were Democrat Barak Obama or Republican Sarah Palin, for whom would you vote or are you undecided? 

The margin of error in the poll was 4.38 percent statewide.