The crop of 2012 Republican presidential candidates is about to expand, adding faces to one of the most varied—and muddled—GOP fields in decades.

The lineup currently lacks a clear favorite to stir the GOP base, to the dismay of many in the party.

A Gallup poll released Friday underscored an awkward situation facing the GOP. Two men who may not even run—Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump—tied for first among Republicans surveyed, with a scant 16% support apiece, while the presumed GOP favorite, Mitt Romney, came in second at 13%.

The last GOP nominee to score under 20% in a Gallup poll at this stage prior to an election was Barry Goldwater in 1964.

"The Republican field is taking shape, but right now, there is no one that excites me," said Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, where the first-in-the-South primary has proved pivotal for many GOP nominees. Like many in the party, Gov. Haley said she is still hoping an unexpected name jumps in to shake things up. "I love surprises," she said.