Senator and Former First Lady Hillary Clinton (D) continues to lead former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson (R) by five points and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney by nine in early Election 2008 polling. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows Clinton leading Thompson 48% to 43%. The former First Lady has a 50% to 41% advantage over Romney.

Both results are a slight improvement for Clinton from a month ago. In the earlier survey, the New York Senator led both Republican hopefuls 47% to 44%.

A separate survey shows Clinton trailing both former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Senator John McCain. That survey was completed in late May. Other surveys since then have shown McCain’s numbers declining due to his vocal and visible support for the Senate immigration bill.

Clinton remains, as she has from the beginning, the most clearly defined, well-known, and polarizing figure in the race. Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters have a favorable opinion of her and 49% hold an unfavorable view. Those figures include 21% with a Very Favorable opinion and 33% with a Very Unfavorable opinion. Another survey found that 47% of Americans say they will definitely vote against Clinton if she is on the ballot in 2008.

Romney is getting better known. Now, 36% have a favorable opinion of him while 42% hold the opposite view. A month ago, Romney’s ratings were 37% favorable, 38% unfavorable. But, his numbers are nowhere near as solid as Clinton’s. Only 14% have a Very Favorable opinion and 13% have a Very Unfavorable opinion.

Thompson, an actor turned Senator turned actor again, 45% have a favorable opinion of him while 31% have an unfavorable view. Those figures include 15% with Very Favorable and 8% with Very Unfavorable opinions of him. Thompson is currently enjoying the benefits of the new kid in town status and it will be interesting to see how his numbers hold up in the coming months.

In the race for the GOP presidential nomination, Thompson jumped right to the top and is currently tied with Giuliani for first place. Romney has consistently been in third or fourth place, currently tied for third with McCain. Rasmussen Reports recently took a look at how McCain slipped from his status as perceived frontrunner to struggling candidate during the first half of 2008.

Among Democratic hopefuls, Clinton has consistently been the frontrunner with support from roughly 35% of Likely Democratic voters.

Rasmussen Reports continuously updates favorability ratings and general election match-ups for all Democratic and Republican candidates. Also available are ratings for Members of Congress, Other Political Figures, and Journalists.

Rasmussen Reports also regularly tracks public attitudes towards Congress, the War on Terror, and other topics.

Rasmussen Reports conducts ongoing surveys measuring the attitudes of Americans on the news of the day such as bringing troops home from Iraq. Recent surveys have asked about American Idol, DC Madam, gun control, the Supreme Court decision on partial-birth abortion, and the subpoenas issued to Condoleezza Rice. The latest updates can be found on the Rasmussen Reports home page.