No, apparently it's not too early for state-specific polls of the 2012 presidential race.

Yesterday, we noted that a University of Texas survey put President Obama narrowly ahead of Mitt Romney in Texas. Today, a Public Policy Polling survey of Minnesota shows Obama leading incumbent Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), as well as outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, in hypothetical matchups there.

2012 General Election Matchup
Obama 51
Pawlenty 40
Undecided 8

Obama 56
Palin 35
Undecided 9

Obama also has a stronger job approval rating than Pawlenty in the North Star State. But it has slipped since an April survey showed him with a 60 percent approval rating.

Job Approval Rating
Obama 54 / 39
Pawlenty 44 / 48
Klobuchar 56 / 30

Pawlenty's approval split was 46 / 40 in April, representing a drop since he announced he would not seek a third term. Only 39 percent of Minnesotans have a favorable opinion of Palin, compared to 53 percent unfavorable.

The automated telephone survey of 1,491 Minnesota voters was conducted July 7-8, and had a margin of error of +/-2.5%.