Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards (D) now leads all Republican hopefuls in Election 2008 polls. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Edwards leading former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) 49% to 43%. That’s the first time Edwards has ever had an advantage over Giuliani. During 2006, the man dubbed “America’s Mayor” led Edwards by an average of nine percentage points in Rasmussen Reports polling. In three previously monthly polls during 2006, Giuliani led Edwards by an average of four percentage points.

In the latest poll, both Giuliani and Edwards do well within their own party. However, Edwards has an eight-point lead among voters not affiliated with either major party.

The poll also found Edwards leading the newest face in the race, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R). In fact, the North Carolinian holds a fourteen percentage point advantage, 50% to 36%. This was the first time an Edwards-Thompson match has been polled. Earlier polls found Edwards leading Arizona Senator John McCain, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Hucakbee.

Giuliani has seen his poll numbers decline on several fronts in recent weeks. While he remains the frontrunner in polls for the GOP nomination, his support fell nine percentage points in a week when Fred Thompson’s name was added. Additionally, Giuliani has lost his leads over New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama. His favorables have tumbled from 71% in December to 58% today. Giuliani stumbled in a television interview recently and suggested his wife might be an advisor at Cabinet meetings. He also repeated his support for public funding of abortions, a position not likely to help his cause in a GOP primary.

On the other hand, Giuliani reported very good fundraising results for the first quarter, topping John McCain and all other Republican candidates except Mitt Romney. While his numbers are down, his favorables are still the highest of any GOP candidate and he does as well as any Republican when matched against possible Democratic challengers in general election polling.

Edwards has consistently placed third in the weekly Rasmussen Reports polls for the Democratic nomination, trailing Clinton and Obama. His favorability ratings shot up following a recent press conference announcing that his wife’s cancer has returned. In fact, Edwards receives favorable reviews from 57% of Likely Voters, within a single point of Giuliani’s total. Thirty-five percent (35%) have an unfavorable opinion. Before the news about his wife was released, Edwards was viewed favorably by 47% and unfavorably by 45%.

Rasmussen Reports continuously updates favorability ratings and general election match-ups for all Democratic and Republican candidates. We also maintain ratings for Members of Congress, Other Political Figures, and Journalists.

Rasmussen Reports releases updated polling data on the Republican nominating contest every Tuesday. Results for the Democrats are updated on Mondays.

Historical data available for Premium Members only.