According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, only 28% of Americans can name — unprompted — Rick Perry, and just 27% can name Romney.

But back in Oct. 2007, per the same Pew poll, 30% could name Romney (and 45% could name Rudy Giuliani). Also in 2007, “[e]ven more could name the two leading Democratic candidates at the time, Hillary Clinton (78%) and Barack Obama (62%).”

Politico observes: “The relatively low degree of familiarity with the Republican field means there’s plenty of room for the candidates to define themselves and each other. It also adds some weight to the Democratic view that President Obama may fare better as his eventual opponent comes into sharper relief.”