[TBBT]

You realize that Obama vs. Generic or Obama vs. X polls have no real meaning at this juncture... And they won’t until an actual candidate becomes the nominee, and the general election campaign begins.

Polls like this serve only one purpose. Create perceptions/narratives that can influence outcomes. They are not about reporting the news. They are about making it. It doesn’t matter who candidate X is. These polls will be used by media and establishment types to push one candidate over another. If for nothing else, the media likes them because they make for great headlines, help fill up air time of 24/7 news outlets, and provide words to fill pages of worthless papers/magazines.

[TBBT]

Here's an example question from an actual poll:

If the 2012 presidential election were being held today and the candidates were Barack Obama, the Democrat, and [INSERT CANDIDATE BELOW AND ROTATE LIST], the Republican, for whom would you vote? (ASK ALL ‘UNSURE/DK/OTHER’: Would you lean toward Obama or toward [CANDIDATE]?

Let's say you're all hot to trot for candidate X. So when they fill in that question with candidate X's name - you're going to say you would would vote for X. Now, you don't like candidate Y because he/she is in competition with X (an might beat X). So how are you going to answer that question when they fill it in with Y's name? If you want to do damage to Y, you'll say that you favor Obama.

So... Better to wait until the general when there are only two options going head to head in the poll.