(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama holds the upper hand against three prospective Republican presidential nominees in the United States, according to a poll by Bloomberg and the Los Angeles Times. 46 per cent of respondents would support the Illinois senator in 2008, while 42 per cent would vote for former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Obama also holds an eight-point advantage over Arizona senator John McCain, and a 19-point advantage over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

In other contests, New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton leads McCain by three points and Romney by seven points, but trails Giuliani by six points. Former North Carolina senator John Edwards also holds advantages over McCain and Romney, but trails Giuliani by two points.

On Apr. 15, Obama discussed his views on the Iraq war, saying, "There is one thing we still have a chance of getting right in this war. And that is when our men and women come home, they shouldn't have to be begging for their disability payments. When they come, we should be treating them with the honour and dignity they deserve."

In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Republican George W. Bush earned a second term after securing 286 electoral votes from 31 states. Democratic nominee John Kerry received 252 electoral votes from 19 states and the District of Columbia.

Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.

Polling Data

If the 2008 presidential election were held today and you had the following two choices, whom do you lean more toward?

Rudy Giuliani (R) 42% - 46% Barack Obama (D)
John McCain (R) 40% - 48% Barack Obama (D)
Mitt Romney (R) 31% - 50% Barack Obama (D)

Rudy Giuliani (R) 48% - 42% Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)
John McCain (R) 42% - 45% Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)
Mitt Romney (R) 37% - 44% Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)

Rudy Giuliani (R) 45% - 43% John Edwards (D)
John McCain (R) 40% - 44% John Edwards (D)
Mitt Romney (R) 30% - 50% John Edwards (D)

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