New York Senator Hillary Clinton leads former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani by five points in the race for Maryland’s ten Electoral College votes. A Rasmussen Reports telephone survey found that Clinton currently enjoys a 46% to 41% advantage while 9% of the state’s voters say they would vote for a third party option. Four percent (4%) are undecided (see crosstabs).

Clinton enjoys larger leads over other Republican hopefuls. With John McCain as the GOP nominee, it’s Clinton 47% McCain 40%. The former First Lady leads Fred Thompson 49% to 37% and Mike Huckabee 52% to 31%.

In all match-ups, Clinton does much better among women than men.

Maryland has ten Electoral College votes and they have been reliably in the Democratic column over recent election cycles. In fact, over the past four Presidential elections, the Democratic candidate has won by 14 to 16 percentage points each time.

Giuliani is viewed favorably by 55% of the state’s voters, Clinton by 54%. None of the others top the 50% mark.

Just 32% of Maryland voters say George W. Bush is doing a good or an excellent job while 54% rate his performance as poor.

Governor Martin O’Malley earns better grades but overall has earned middling reviews—34% good or excellent, 33% fair, 30% poor.

Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Maryland voters want U.S. troops home from Iraq within a year.

Sixty-four percent (64%) say it is Very Important for the government to improve its enforcement of the border and reduce illegal immigration. Another 19% say it’s Somewhat Important.

However, just 25% say it is Very Important to legalize the status of illegal aliens already in the United States.

On Maryland-specific issues, 60% favor the legalization of slot machines as a way to raise revenue for the state treasury. However, voters oppose raising the state sales tax by a 66% to 27% margin. Eighty-one percent (81%) of Republicans oppose the tax hike along with 57% of Democrats.

The poll was conducted in partnership with Fox Broadcast Stations, Inc.

See survey questions and top-line results. Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.