Charlie Sheen in the White House?

Charlie Sheen in the White House?

Charlie Sheen's very public meltdown has become the subject of both fascination and ridicule in recent weeks. But just when it seems the story couldn't get more bizarre, a new poll finds independent voters narrowly prefer the embattled ex-TV star to Sarah Palin in the upcoming 2012 presidential race.

In what could be the most unusual 2012 poll to date, Public Policy Polling finds that Sheen bests Palin 41 percent to 36 percent among indy voters ahead of 2012. When all voters are included, the former Alaska governor regains a significant advantage, leading Sheen 49 percent to 29 percent.

But the Sheen/Palin match-up may not even be the craziest result in the poll. According to PPP, Democrats would support Sheen over Palin in 2012 by 44 percent to 24 percent. Meanwhile, Republicans would back Sheen over President Obama 37 percent to 28 percent.

In other words, Republicans dislike Obama so much that they'd prefer to have a guy who cavorts with porn stars and talks about "banging seven gram rocks" of cocaine as leader of the free world. Ditto for Democrats, who intensely dislike Palin. That's what Sheen might call "winning!"

According to PPP, the numbers are especially surprising given Sheen ranks as one of the most unpopular figures they've ever polled on. Just 10 percent of Americans view Sheen favorably--narrowly besting indicted ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who boasts an 8 percent approval rating. Interestingly, Sheen is narrowly more reviled than former Sen. John Edwards, whose approval rating was at just 15 percent in a recent poll.