A new Rasmussen Reports survey shows Senator Barack Obama surging past former Governor Mike Huckabee by 51% to 35% among likely voters. Senator Hillary Clinton also leads Huckabee, but by only eight points, 48% to 40%.

In early January and in December, Obama led Huckabee by only a few points in our polling. In five previous surveys conducted between November 2006 and November 2007, however, Obama led by anywhere from nine points to 20 points (see history and trends).

By contrast, even when Huckabee was relatively unknown to voters, Clinton's lead over him never exceeded eight percentage points. Since May of 2007, Huckabee has always reached at least 40% support in match-ups with her (see history and trends). In the January 10 survey Huckabee managed a three-point lead over the former First Lady, but in every other case he has trailed.

Obama is viewed favorably by 51%, unfavorably by 47%. Clinton is viewed favorably by 49%, unfavorably by 50%. Huckabee is now viewed favorably by only 41%, unfavorably by 50%.
In Rasmussen Reports state surveys, Clinton trails Obama in South Carolina, but leads by healthy margins in Florida, New Jersey, and New York. She has a narrower lead in California.

Nationally, Huckabee is ranked third in the GOP nomination race. Though still gaining a plurality of evangelical voters, he's ranked fourth in the upcoming Florida primary.

Rasmussen Markets data gives Clinton a % chance of winning the Democratic nomination and Obama a % chance. On the Republican side, McCain is now given a % chance of winning the nomination. Mitt Romney is at % followed by Giuliani at % and Mike Huckabee at %. Numbers in this paragraph are from a prediction market, not a poll.

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