The latest Rasmussen Reports survey of Republican Congressman Ron Paul's electoral strength shows him trailing top Democratic candidates by double digits. Senator Hillary Clinton leads Paul 48% to 38% (although among male voters, Paul lags Clinton by only two points).

Senator Barack Obama leads the Republican Congressman 50% to 38%.

Paul has gained ground since beginning his presidential campaign as a virtual unknown outside of his congressional district and some libertarian and conservative circles.

But the enthusiasm of supporters, his strength in GOP straw polls, and his surprising fundraising ability have yet to make him competitive in either GOP-nomination or general-election match-ups. In Iowa, Paul attracts just 2% of the vote and he has yet to top 3% in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

If Paul somehow manages to overcome long odds and win the Republican nomination, just 17% of Republicans and 12% of all voters think Paul has any chance of winning the general election. As the Republican nominee, only 4% believe Paul would be Very Likely to win in November 2008.

Still, Paul's showing against both Clinton and Obama has improved moderately since July. Then, Paul lagged Clinton by 15 percentage points, Obama by 20.

Paul is viewed favorably by just 26% of all voters, unfavorably by 32%. In April, only 14% had a favorable opinion of him.

Rasmussen Reports has not gauged perceptions of Paul's ideology. But he is known as a libertarian and gold bug who in Congress continually casts a lone nay vote in protest of legislation he regards as unconstitutional. In the GOP field he is conspicuous for his opposition to the war in Iraq.

The Paul campaign has reported that it raised about $5 million over the summer and at the end of September had $5.3 million on hand.

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