Regardless of how unreliable polls may turn out to be, there won’t be a shortage of numbers from now until the 2012 presidential election. Since the Democrats are unlikely to stray from an Obama candidacy, most eyes are on the Republican side. Libertarian Ron Paul won CPAC’s straw poll last weekend, followed by Republican Mitt Romney, who is struggling for support in conservative southern states but is doing well here in the West.

Talking Points Memo, citing data from Public Policy Polling, notes that in Colorado Romney has a lead (with 19 points) over Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, both trailing at 16 percent each. Newt Gingrich would nab 12 percent with Paul, Tim Pawlenty, John Thune, and Mitch Daniels following. Romney is also polling well in California and Arizona. Obama taught Republicans a thing or two in 2008 by winning nine states and one electoral vote from a congressional district that George W. Bush solidly won in 2004. PPP revisits each of those areas, including Colorado, to find that Obama, at the moment, seems set to win again.