Damn liberal pollsters trying to downplay the great conservative hope…what’s that? It’s actually Rasmussen Reports? Oh…well….ouch.

If Election Day was right now, President Obama would defeat the former Alaska governor 50% to 33%, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This marks the first time that the president has risen out of the 40s in hypothetical matchups with any of the major GOP presidential hopefuls. Fifteen percent (15%) prefer some other candidate, and two percent (2%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

In other words, he doesn’t get out of the 40s against any Republican candidate — except Palin. He would defeat her by 17 points. He’d win reelection in a landslide and claim a mandate for his policies.

But hey, at least as time goes on and the economy gets worse people are more open to a Palin presidency, right? Nope:

Last month, Obama posted a 47% to 38% lead over Palin, the GOP’s unsuccessful vice presidential candidate in 2008.

So she’s actually doing worse this month than last — despite market turmoil, bad economic numbers, and continued high unemployment. In the same month Obama posted a 39% approval rating, he actually increased his lead against Palin. That’s how toxic of a candidate she has become.