Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, currently leading in the tight contest for the Florida Republican primary, continues to trail both top Democratic aspirants in a new Rasmussen Reports poll of the general election. Hillary Clinton leads Romney 47% to 42%. Barack Obama leads Romney 47% to 38%

Obama has usually enjoyed a wider margin over Romney than has the former First Lady. In mid-January, Obama by 12 points. Now Romney has shaved a few more points of Obama's lead to bring it down to single digits, albeit just barely. He's also gained a point on Clinton, who led by six in mid-January.

Romney has always managed at least 40% support in match-ups with Clinton. With but two exceptions he slumps below 40% in his match-ups with Obama.

Separate polling shows that McCain currently matches up better with the leading Democrats than Romney. However, until the nominations are settled, all general election polling data should be viewed with caution.

While outperforming Clinton in many general election match-ups, Senator Obama trails Senator Clinton nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. Although his candidacy is being discounted, third-ranked Senator John Edwards still draws double digit support from primary voters around the country.

The daily Presidential Tracking Poll also shows Romney trailing just a few points behind John McCain. Mike Huckabee is a couple points behind Romney.

Romney leads currently ahead in Florida —where a weakened Giuliani campaign is hoping to pull a fat rabbit out of the hat—but trails in Georgia, New Jersey, and New York.

Rasmussen Markets data gives Clinton a % chance of winning the Democratic nomination and Obama a % chance. On the Republican side, McCain is now given a % chance of winning the nomination. Mitt Romney is at % followed by Giuliani at % and Mike Huckabee at %. Numbers in this paragraph are from a prediction market, not a poll.

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