Former Senator John Edwards now attracts 50% support in the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey matching him with former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He leads Giuliani 50% to 41%. The poll also shows Edwards with a ten-point advantage over former Senator Fred Thompson, 49% to 39%.

One interesting twist to this year’s early Presidential polling is that Edwards typically outperforms other leading Democratic hopefuls in general election match-ups but remains a distant third in the competition for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. This seems to have impaired his fundraising and Edwards recently decided to accept public funding. The move subjects his campaign to strict spending limits that many political observers believe will handicap his efforts.

Still, Edwards currently leads the top four Republican candidates by an average of nearly nine points. Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton leads the top GOP hopefuls by an average of six points while Barack Obama holds an average lead of five points (see a summary of general election match-ups and other key stats for all Democratic and Republican candidates).

The new poll results reflect little change in the Edwards-Giuliani match over the past month. In August, the Democrat had a 49% to 41% advantage. Edwards has been ahead in this match-up in seven of the eight polls conducted since April. The two men were tied in June. This is the first time Edwards has hit 50% support when matched against Giuliani (see history).

The former mayor's once stratospheric favorable ratings have now slid to 49% for two consecutive weeks. Edwards is now viewed favorably by 48%, a drop of a few points since the previous poll, but within the relatively narrow range we've seen throughout the year.

Though still trailing by double digits, Fred Thompson has gained on Edwards since our August 22 poll. At that time, it was Edwards 49% Thompson 35% and Edwards has held a double digit lead in most of the eight surveys so far pitting him against Thompson (see history).

In the GOP nomination race Thompson and Giuliani continue to wrestle for the lead. Senator Thompson is viewed favorably viewed by 43% while 20% still don’t know enough about him to form an opinion.

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