Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss leads two potential Democratic candidates by solid margins in the first Rasmussen Reports poll of the Georgia Senate race. However, the Senator’s support is hovering around the 50% level in each match-up.

Chambliss leads Dale Cardwell 49% to 33% and holds a 53% to 28% edge over Vernon Jones.

Cardwell, an investigative reporter for a local television station, is viewed favorably by 34% of Likely Voters and unfavorably by 39%.

Jones, the DeKalb County CEO, draws favorably reviews from just 29% of voters statewide. Fifty-four percent (54%) have an unfavorable opinion.

Chambliss, the incumbent Senator, earns far more favorable reviews—58% favorable and 30% unfavorable.

While Chambliss is stuck in the 50% range, he is in far better shape than Republican incumbents in Minnesota and New Hampshire. Democrat Mark Warner holds a huge lead in the race for an open Republican seat in Virginia.

In the race for Georgia’s Electoral College Votes, Rudy Giuliani (R) leads Hillary Clinton (D) by ten percentage points (49% to 39%). Fred Thompson (R) leads the Democratic frontrunner by twelve (51% to 39%). However, the race looks much more competitive if Mitt Romney is the Republican nominee. In that match-up, it’s Romney 44% Clinton 41%.

While Democrats rarely do well in Southern states, Clinton leads convincingly in Arkansas and has a slight early edge in Virginia.

Nationally, Clinton is the frontrunner for the Democratic Presidential nomination.Giuliani and Thompson are the leaders among those seeking the GOP nomination.

Giuliani is viewed favorably by 60% of Georgia voters, Thompson by 56%, Romney by 48%, and Clinton by 46%.

The survey also found that 84% of Georgia voters believe it is fair to require voters to show a photo ID before voting. Only 13% disagree.

76% say it is Very Important for the government to improve its enforcement of the borders and reduce illegal immigration. Another 17% consider this goal Somewhat Important. Despite its importance, only 10% say the federal government is doing enough to enforce the border.

Only 27% of Georgia voters say it is Very Important for the government to legalize the status of illegal aliens already in the United States.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations, Inc.

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