A plurality of 46% of Illinois voters would vote for a generic Democrat if the Presidential election were held today, while only 35% would vote for the GOP candidate. But Senator Barack Obama benefits more from the pro-Democratic leaning than does Senator Hillary Clinton.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds Clinton with a 46% to 40% lead over former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a 45% to 41% lead over former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

While Clinton leads the Republican hopefuls by single digits, Illinois Senator Obama dominates on his home turf leading Giuliani 55% to 31% and Huckabee 54% to 30%.

Three previous polls of Illinois voter sentiment showed the same discrepancy between Clinton and Obama, with Obama generally leading top GOP aspirants by double digits, Clinton by single digits. In October, Clinton led Giuliani by three points while Obama had a twenty-two point advantage over the former Mayor of New York City.

There's measurably more enthusiasm for Obama, who won his freshman term in the U.S. Senate by a landslide and is viewed favorably by 66% of Illinois voters. That figure includes 41% who view him Very Favorably. Clinton is viewed favorably by 51% including only 18% who regard her Very Favorably.

On the Republican side, 47% offer a favorable assessment for Giuliani. Forty-five percent (45%) say the same for Huckabee.

Voters here are naturally disposed to favor the U.S. Senator from their state, but Obama has also been making progress nationally and in early primary states. He's now just a few points behind Clinton in Iowa and New Hampshire. In South Carolina, they're tied.

Governor Rod Blagojevich is one of the few chief executives in the nation who gets a more dismal report card from his constituents than the nation's president. Both men get a Poor rating from 53%. But 29% say President Bush is doing a Good (13%) or Excellent (16%) job. Only 16% say Blagojevich is doing a Good or Excellent job.

Perhaps thinking of their current governor, 66% believe voters should have the right to recall elected officials in the state.

However, the state’s voters aren’t impressed with the state legislature either. If they could vote to eliminate all current state legislators from office and installing a brand-new legislature, 55% would do so. Just 19% would vote against an all new legislature while 26% are Not Sure.

A majority believe elections are competently and fairly conducted in the state, with 50% saying they are Somewhat Confident of this, 27% that they are Very Confident.

Seventy-six percent (76%) believe most people answer opinion polls honestly. Just 4% disagree.

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