A pair of New York politicians lead the early primary polling for Election 2008. Senator Hillary Clinton (D) now attracts 34% support from Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters. Senator Barack Obama is in second place at 17% while no other Democrat breaks into double digits. Clinton’s lead over Obama is more than twice what it was a month ago. Tom Vilsack, the Iowa Governor who has formally entered the race, has nowhere to go but up. He currently earns support from 1% of potential voters (see favorability ratings for Democratic candidates).

On the GOP side, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) is on top with 31% support. Senator John McCain (R), considered the frontrunner by many, is in second place with 22%. This is the first Rasmussen Reports survey release without Condoleezza Rice (R) as a potential candidate. A month ago, Giuliani, McCain, and Rice were the only GOP candidates in double digits. Now, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R) is in third place with 14% of the vote. (see favorability ratings for Republican candidates).

As expected, McCain struggles with conservatives. Among conservative voters, the Arizona Senator is essentially even with Gingrich, far behind Giuliani.

Over the past month, Rasmussen Reports has polled on a number of potential General Election match-ups including:

Clinton (D) 43%; Giuliani (R) 48%

McCain (R) 48%; Clinton (D) 44%

Giuliani (R) 50%; Edwards (D) 41%

McCain (R) 47%; Edwards (D) 43%

Giuliani (R) 47%; Gore (D) 44%

McCain (R) 48%; Gore (D) 41%

Giuliani (R) 48%; Obama (D) 39%

McCain (R) 47%; Obama (D) 39%

Edwards (D) 51%; Romney (R) 34%

Obama (D) 48%; Romney (R) 33%

Edwards (D) 50%; Huckabee (R) 33%

Obama (D) 50%; Huckabee (R) 31%

McCain (R) 49%; Vilsack (D) 32%

Vilsack (D) 39%; Romney (R) 35%

Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.