(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-04 10:37

WASHINGTON -- National support for front-runners of both Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls significantly eroded over the past month, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll has found.

According to the poll released here Monday, Sen. Clinton Rodham Clinton of New York, the Democratic front-runner, finished with 39 percent of support among Democratic interviewees, down from 48 percent in the previous survey.

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton leaves a news conference during a campaign rally stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa December 2, 2007. [Agencies]

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois grabbed 24 percent of support, up from 21 percent in the previous survey.

John Edwards of North Carolina got 15 percent of support, up from 12 percent in the previous survey.

In the Republican field, front-runner Rudy Giuliani of New York got 25 percent of support among Republican interviewees, down from 34 percent in the last survey.

Mike Huckabee of Arkansas has shot up to the second place of 16 percent of support.

Fred Thompson of Tennessee and Sen. John McCain of Arizona tied up for the third place, with 15 percent of support each.

Mitt Romney of Massachusetts finished with 12 percent of support.

Republican presidential candidate former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani reacts during the CNN/YouTube/Republican Party of Florida presidential debate in St. Petersburg, Florida, November 28, 2007. [Agencies]

The latest poll underscores the volatile nature of both the Democratic and Republican nomination battles with just one month away from the Jan. 3 Iowa presidential caucuses.

The national telephone poll was taken last Friday through last Sunday, in which 425 Republicans and 494 Democrats were surveyed.