(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Republican Mitt Romney trails two prospective Democratic presidential nominees in the United States, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 47 per cent of respondents would vote for former North Carolina senator John Edwards in 2008, while 32 per cent would support the former Massachusetts governor.

In a contest pitting Romney against Illinois senator Barack Obama, the Democrat holds a 13-point advantage.

Romney—a Mormon—won the 2002 gubernatorial election in Massachusetts, defeating Democratic challenger Shannon O'Brien with 50 per cent of the vote. Romney decided not to seek re-election, and officially launched a presidential exploratory committee on Jan. 4.

On Jan. 8, Romney's "National Call Day" fundraising experiment garnered $6.5 million U.S. for his presidential bid. Romney's candidacy has been endorsed by Republican South Carolina senator Jim DeMint.

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

Possible match-ups - 2008 U.S. presidential election

Romney v. Edwards

Romney v. Obama

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