Hizzoner trumps the president 51-45. By comparison, presumed front-runner Mitt Romney trails Obama 48-47, and Texas governor Rick Perry--who entry into the race is imminent--trails 51-46.

But the poll also reveals that Giuliani will run into the same trouble he ran into in 2008--Republican primary voters.  He came in a tie for third when Republican primary voters were asked who they would like their nominee to be, behind Romney and Perry and tied with Sarah Palin and Ron Paul.

The poll comes out as Giuliani has given little public indication that he is going to run by, for example, hosting a television special devoted to the Mafia and downplaying his chances to Jimmy Fallon.

But it also comes out the same day that an AP story comes out that says that Giuliani is "quietly working to hire political operatives in New Hampshire for a possible second White House bid. Representatives for the former New York mayor have contacted veteran New Hampshire campaign strategists in recent days about joining a Giuliani campaign, according to several people with direct knowledge of the effort"

 
Gop 2012 Poll