New York Senator Hillary Clinton (D) and Illinois Senator Barack Obama (D) continue to lead former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R) in the early stages of Election 2008. A Rasmussen Reports telephone survey conducted March 7 and 8 found Clinton leading Romney by nine percentage points, 50% to 41%. Obama holds an even larger lead, 51% to 36%.

These results are similar to last month’s survey which found Clinton leading Romney by ten and Obama up by fourteen points.

Among white voters, Obama leads Romney 44% to 41%. However, Clinton doesn’t fare as well, trailing Romney among white voters 48% to 43%. The two Democrats do equally well among African-Americans and other non-white voters.

Clinton and Obama are leading the polls in the race for the Democratic nomination. Still, 60% of voters expect the Democrats to eventually nominate a white male. Former Senator John Edwards (D) is in third place among Democratic contenders and often does better in general election match-ups than Clinton (see a summary of how all Democratic candidates match-up against the GOP).

Governor Romney doesn't top the slate of the Republican candidates, currently dominated by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Senator John McCain. But some think Romney has the potential to advance despite reservations he is seeking to quell about his Mormon faith. His sixtieth birthday celebration was an occasion for commentators to note his relative youth as against McCain, who recently celebrated his seventieth.

The governor is seeking to cast himself as both fiscally and socially conservative. A late February Rasmussen Reports survey indicated that about 30% of likely voters see him as conservative, 25% as moderate.

Romney is viewed favorably by 32%, a slight dip from the 35% we saw in an early February poll. He's viewed unfavorably by 37%. Thirty percent (30%) don't know him well enough yet to venture an opinion (see ratings for all GOP candidates).

Obama is viewed favorably by 55% of voters nationwide, Clinton by 50%.

Fifty-three percent (53%) view Clinton as politically liberal. Forty-three percent (43%) say the same about Obama.

Crosstabs and Historical data available for Premium Members only.