Former Senator John Edwards is in pitched battles with each of two top GOP candidates in the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Edwards and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani are tied 44% to 44% among likely voters. Edwards manages just a four-point lead of 44% to 40% over the latest GOP aspirant to enjoy a spike in the polls, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (see crosstabs).

Huckabee's recent success has put him on the map in both early primary contests (Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina) and the national GOP race. The last time Rasmussen Reports gauged his strength against Edwards was November of 2006, when Edwards led his then-little-known opponent 50% to 33%.

Huckabee is also giving other top Democrats a run for their money. The Rasmussen Reports December 3 poll shows him trailing Senator Barack Obama by just four points and he's in a virtual tie against Senator Hillary Clinton. Several earlier polls of these contests show Huckabee usually lagging Obama by double digits but lagging Clinton by just single digits.

Huckabee is now viewed favorably by 48%, unfavorably by just 33%. Despite his new visibility almost one fifth of all likely voters still lack a definite opinion of him.

Giuliani is now at 44% favorable, 49% unfavorable. Edwards is viewed favorably by 43%, unfavorably by 47%.

In October, Giuliani and Edwards were in a toss-up consistent with the present statistical tie. Edwards led Giuliani by nine points in September.

In the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, Edwards consistently places third in national polling behind Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Those three are locked in a tight battle in Iowa. Clinton holds a declining lead in New Hampshire but has lost her lead in South Carolina.

On the Republican side, Huckabee and Giuliani are currently the national frontrunners. Huckabee and Mitt Romney lead in Iowa, Romney leads in New Hampshire, while Huckabee has the advantage in South Carolina. In Michigan, there’s a three-way toss-up between Huckabee, Romney, and Giuliani.

Crosstabs and Historical Data available for Premium Members only.