Sarah Palin would be a credible candidate were she to run in the 2012 Iowa caucuses, according to the results of an Iowa Poll reported today in the Des Moines Register. She is viewed favorably by 68% of Iowa Republicans — just behind former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee with 70%.

The same survey, however, suggests Palin would face difficulties in a general election. Looking at the entire Iowa public instead of just Republicans, the survey finds that the former Alaska governor has high negatives, with 55% viewing her negatively, and only 37% positively.