(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani holds the upper hand against two prospective Democratic rivals in the 2008 United States presidential election, according to George Washington University's Battleground poll. 53 per cent of respondents would vote for the Republican, while 42 per cent would support New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

In a contest pitting Giuliani against Illinois senator Barack Obama, the Republican holds a seven-point advantage over the Democrat.

Arizona senator John McCain also holds the upper hand against the two Democratic presidential hopefuls. McCain leads Rodham Clinton by 10 points, and Obama by nine points.

Giuliani garnered national and international attention in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In 2000, McCain won seven Republican presidential primaries in the U.S., but retired from the race after eventual nominee George W. Bush became the frontrunner.

On Jan. 15, Giuliani announced that former Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle would become of his advisors. Giulaini said Nussle would play "an important leadership role on behalf of the exploratory committee in Iowa and nationally." Since 1976, the Iowa caucus has kicked off the process of finding presidential nominees for the two major political parties in the United States.

In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, 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 election for president were held today and you had to make a choice between these two

candidates, for whom would you vote?

Rudy Giuliani (R) 53% - 42% Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)
Rudy Giuliani (R) 49% - 42% Barack Obama (D)
John McCain (R) 53% - 43% Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)
John McCain (R) 51% - 40% Barack Obama (D)

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