John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina, tops Arizona Senator John McCain 47% to 38% in the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey (see crosstabs). The same poll also shows Edwards with the double-digit lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney of 50% to 34%.

Over the last ten surveys of the Edwards-McCain match-up, Edwards has always been in front with leads ranging from as little as one percentage point (in February) to as much as 13% (June). The last four Rasmussen Reports polls on this match-up show Edwards with a lead ranging with a more narrow range from four to seven points (see history). In early October Edwards led McCain 47% to 40%.

In the Edwards-Romney match-up, Edwards has held a double digit lead in ten consecutive Rasmussen Reports national election polls. Edwards current lead of sixteen percentage points is little changed from his seventeen point advantage in early October.

The new survey was conducted October 31-November 1, several days after a Democratic debate notable for a general ratcheting up of criticism of frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Going into the debate, Senator Barack Obama had announced he was in process of taking off the gloves. But many commentators think Edwards was harder hitting during the debate itself.

While pundits panned Clinton’s performance, the initial post-debate polling results showed no negative impact on the Democratic frontrunner. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll continues to monitor the race and will measure any longer-term impact of the race as well.

In addition to leading in the national polls, Clinton leads all Democrats in Iowa and New Hampshire. Rasmussen Reports will conduct new polls in these states in the near future to measure any potential impact from the debate in these early voting states.

Voters are more likely to regard Edwards as liberal than moderate, and to regard McCain as moderate rather than conservative; Romney is more often considered conservative than moderate. A preponderance of moderates prefer Edwards over the Republican in both match-ups.

In other recent polls Edwards leads former Senator Fred Thompson by nine percentage points, and is neck and neck with former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Though trailing Edwards, McCain is virtually tied with both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Romney's robust performance in early voting states has not been matched by support in national polling. He leads all Republicans in both Iowa and New Hampshire but is struggling to stay in double digits nationally.

And with the exception of Hillary Clinton (granted, not a minor exception), Governor Romney—still an unfamiliar quantity to about 18% of all likely voters—rarely reaches 40% support in national match-ups with top Democrats. His stronger numbers against Clinton primarily reflect people committed to voting against Clinton rather than for Romney.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.