New National Presidential Poll Shows Giuliani Holding His Lead, Clinton Increasing Hers

A new national poll released by USA Today/Gallup last night shows Clinton increasing her lead over Obama (results from mid-July in parens):

48% (40%) Clinton
26% (28%) Obama
12% (13%) Edwards
4% (5%) Richardson
3% (3%) Biden
1% (1%) Kucinich
-% (1%) Dodd

Clinton's favorable/unfavorable rating at is 47%/49%, compared to 47%/35% for Edwards and 48%/34% for Obama.

The poll also shows Clinton leading Obama 59%/36% in a head-to-head matchup. Asked specifically whether Clinton or Obama would do a better job as President with respect to the following areas, Clinton leads Obama by about the same margin: national security 60%/33%, dealing with nations that are unfriendly to the United States 60%/35%, the war in Iraq 56%/36%, and the role of commander-in-chief of the military 56%/36%.

On the Republican side, the poll shows former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) maintaining a strong lead over his nearest rival, not-yet-announced candidate Fred Thompson (R-TN):

33% (33%) Giuliani
21% (21%) F. Thompson
16% (16%) McCain
8% (8%) Romney
2% (2%) Huckabee
2% (2%) Paul
2% (3%) T. Thompson
1% (2%) Brownback
1% (-%) Hagel
1% (-%) Tancredo
1% (1%) Hunter

McCain's favorability rating has declined to 41%/42%. McCain and Clinton are the only two major candidates in negative territory. Giuliani is at 55%/32%.