A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the presidential race shows Republican Senator John McCain still within a couple percentage points of Democratic frontrunner Senator Hillary Clinton. It’s Clinton 46%, McCain 44%.

That two-point gap is unchanged from our previous survey of this match-up. In 2006 and up until April of this year, the Arizona Republican held at least narrow leads over Clinton. Since then, Senator Clinton has had the advantage but her leads have usually been modest as well.

The survey also shows Clinton with a double digit lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney 51% to 40%.

Clinton has bested Romney in every Rasmussen Reports poll of the match-up since December. Across seven surveys, her support has never dropped lower than 46%, Romney's never risen higher than 44%, and they have never been closer than three points apart.

Clinton leads McCain 52% to 38% among women, percentages that mirror McCain's lead among male voters. In the match-up with Romney, the former First Lady has a twenty-point advantage with women.

Clinton is the Democratic frontrunner while McCain and Romney are trailing in the GOP competition. Clinton also leads in the New Hampshire and Florida Democratic primaries. Romney leads the GOP field in New Hampshire but Rudy Giuliani is on top in Florida.

Forty-five percent (45%) of voters nationwide now have a favorable opinion of Clinton. That’s the lowest level yet recorded during the Election 2008 season for the best known candidate in the race. Fifty-four percent (54%) hold an unfavorable view. However, a review of polling data concerning Clinton all year suggests that the numbers are likely to return to a fairly even divide.

Romney is now viewed favorably by 41%, unfavorably by 40%. The better-known McCain is also liked by just a few more (47%) than dislike him (45%). For both men, these numbers represent gains over the past week. However, while the overall numbers are similar for both, the dynamics of their support is quite different.

Romney is now viewed favorably by 62% of Republicans and unfavorably by just 16%. That’s a significant improvement from earlier surveys.

McCain doesn’t fare nearly as well within his own party. Just 54% of the GOP faithful have a favorable opinion of him while 39% say the opposite.

McCain is also viewed favorably by 54% of unaffiliated voters and 36% of Democrats. Romney doesn’t come close to matching those numbers.

Rasmussen Reports has recently released polling data showing how Clinton matches up against leading Republicans in Ohio, Florida, Oregon, New Hampshire, Michigan, Arkansas, and Colorado.

Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.