Politics | Ron Paul Poll Sees Ron Paul Giving Obama Close Race Rasmussen offers matchup in new poll By John Johnson Posted Apr 14, 2010 2:30 PM CDT Copied Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, speaks at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Saturday, April 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) If in some parallel political universe, Ron Paul finds himself as the main candidate against President Obama in 2012, the race could be a squeaker. So says Rasmussen Reports, which posed that hypothetical matchup in a phone survey and found Obama beating Paul by just 42% to 41%. HotAirPundit sees the results as "proof that Barry is in serious trouble in 2012," and Matt Drudge is using the words "shock poll" in his headline teaser. But Ben Smith of Politico has a different take: It's "a useful reminder of how totally flaky early presidential polling is." Read These Next Los Angeles tunnel collapses with workers inside. Trailer for Ryan Gosling's Project Hail Mary scores a record. The Giants celebrate a 'once-in-a-century' home run. Missing teen surfer found alive on uninhabited island. Report an error