If voters are given a choice between Rep. Ron Paul and President Barack Obama in a hypothetical 2012 presidential match-up, it’s a dead heat, according to the latest Rasmussen poll.

Rep. Ron Paul (R., Texas) speaks at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Saturday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

An April 12-13 telephone survey of 1,000 likely voters had the Texas Republican trailing Obama by just one point, 42%-41%. Roughly one in 10, 11%, prefer another candidate while 6% were undecided.

The poll was touted immediately by Campaign for Liberty, Ron Paul’s political outfit. It’s an unusually high number for the lawmaker who rarely breaks in to the double-digits in polls (other than unscientific straw polls) when respondents are asked to pick a Republican nominee from a longer list of prospective 2012 candidates.

The 41% figure more broadly indicates overall opposition to Obama.

The president has more support from self-identified Democrats; 79% said they would vote for him. Two-thirds of self-identified Republicans said they would vote for Paul. Unaffiliated voters favor Paul 47%-28% over Obama.

There are divides regarding Paul and his effect on the Republican Party—nearly three in 10, 27%, of Republicans said he is a divisive force while 30% said he presents a new direction for the GOP. Most Republicans, 42%, said they weren’t sure.