This morning Quinnipiac finds Rick Perry ahead of Mitt Romney among Republicans nationally, 24 percent to 18 percent, but I find the other bits of data more interesting:

Republicans and Democrats are tied 38 – 38 percent when the independent Quinnipiac University survey asks American voters who they would vote for in the 2012 races for U.S. Congress — the so-called “generic ballot.” The percentage of all registered voters who say President Obama deserves a second term in the Oval Office has fallen to a negative 42 – 51 percent, matching a 41 – 50 percent all-time low reading on whether he deserves another four years in office from a March 30 survey.

Polls are consistently showing Congress even less popular than usual — but the generic ballot remains pretty close in most surveys.

Among Republicans and independent voters leaning Republican, Perry gets 24 percent to Romney’s 18 percent, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s 11 percent, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s 10 percent, Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul’s 9 percent and businessman Herman Cain’s 5 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich gets 3 percent, while former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, former Sen. Rick Santorum and Michigan U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter get 1 percent each. If Palin doesn’t run, Perry leads Romney 26 – 20 percent with Bachmann at 12 percent.
Romney is viewed favorably by 36 percent, unfavorably by 27 percent — somewhat better than Perry’s split 22 – 23 percent favorable rating, with 55 percent who don’t know enough about him to form an opinion. Among Republicans, however, Perry is 44 – 5 percent favorable, compared to Romney’s 57 – 14 favorable rating. Bachmann is 36 – 26 percent unfavorable among all voters and 50 – 14 percent favorable among Republicans. President Obama has a split 47 – 47 percent favorability rating among all voters. In the trial November matchups, the president ties Romney 45 – 45 percent. Obama edges Perry 45 – 42 percent and leads Bachmann 48 – 39 percent and Palin 51 – 37 percent.

I’m increasingly skeptical that Palin will run, but it’s rather fascinating that Obama’s at 51 percent against her. As recently as June, Fox News had him ahead, 56 percent to 35 percent and McClatchy had the same totals.