PPP: Gary Johnson Libertarian run could shape 2012

Public Policy Polling has several pieces on Gary Johnson. From one article that gives the former governor a 49% favorable rating in his home state:

Despite popularity with the general electorate, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson has never been particularly well-liked with his home-state Republicans. He certainly outperforms his minuscule standing in the presidential primaries in other states, but still can muster no more than third here.

Here's a snip from other PPP findings among which cite Johnson's uninspiring Senate chances:

Newt Gingrich is up big in New Mexico, leading the way there with 39% to 14% for Mitt Romney, 11% for Gary Johnson, 8% for Ron Paul and Rick Perry, 6% for Michele Bachmann, 3% for Rick Santorum, and 2% for Jon Huntsman.

PPP just tweeted that Gary Johnson would take 23% of the general election vote in New Mexico running as a Libertarian. Presumably, their results depend on Romney winning the GOP nomination and Ron Paul not running as an Independent.

If the US is really divided among acceptors, deniers, and skeptics, Gary Johnson seems like the perfect none-of-the-above candidate if Ron Paul chooses not to make a third-party run, innit?

From my inbox, courtesy Ella:

David Axelrod, Obama's advisor, commented in a press briefing the other day on Newt Gingrich's rise in the poles [sic] by quoting an old saying from Chicago politics -- the higher a monkey climbs on a pole, the more you can see his asshole.