Gov. Tim Pawlenty continues to perform poorly in horse race matchups among potential Republican presidential candidates.

A Newsmax-Zogby poll published Wednesday shows that just 4.9 percent of likely GOP voters would vote for him in a Republican primary. That puts him behind newly-elected Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (who hasn't even assumed office yet) at 5.2 percent.

According to Newsmax, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was backed by 22.2 percent of the party's likely voters, leading former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, picked by 19.4 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was backed by 12 percent, followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 11 percent.

Other recent polls also have put Pawlenty's support in the single digits.

Standing caveat: Pawlenty hasn't said whether he's running in 2012.