(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Republican Rudy Giuliani holds an eight-point advantage in a United States presidential contest against Democrat John Edwards, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 49 per cent of respondents would support the former New York City mayor, while 41 per cent would vote for the former North Carolina senator.

Giuliani garnered national and international attention in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and has formed a political action committee called Solutions America.

Edwards—who worked as a personal injury trial attorney prior to entering politics—won the 1998 election to the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, defeating Republican incumbent Lauch Faircloth with 51.2 per cent of the vote. Edwards served in the upper house from 1999 to 2005. He was John Kerry's running mate in the 2004 United States presidential election.

On Dec. 28, Edwards officially launched his bid in New Orleans, declaring, "This campaign will be a grass-roots, ground-up campaign where we ask people to take action. (...) We have to show we have the moral authority to lead. We can't lead on raw power."

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. 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

Giuliani v. Edwards

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