Gov. Tim Pawlenty has tried to raise his profile in Iowa recently, including an appearance last week at the state fair, but his polling numbers still barely register a heartbeat in the state where the first presidential caucuses are held.
Pawlenty scored 1 percent in a poll of Republican presidential hopefuls released Monday by the Iowa Republican, putting him in a distant tie for sixth out of 10 candidates in the poll.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the 2008 Iowa caucuses, led at 22 percent, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 18 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 14 percent and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at 11 percent.
The one bit of good news for Pawlenty is that three potential candidates included — former Sen. Rick Santorum, Mississippi Gov. Hayley Barbour and Texas Gov. Rick Perry — failed to reach the 1 percent threshold.
Twenty-three percent of respondents said they remain undecided.
But Monday's Iowa poll underscores what's been clear from past polls, both nationally and in New Hampshire (the first primary state): Pawlenty still lacks name recognition to put him on the national scene. He's yet to register above single digits in any 2012 presidential poll.
"Obviously," the Iowa Republican wrote, "many people remain loyal to the candidates they supported in 2008."
