RENO, Nev. (AP) - Republican Rudy Giuliani and Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton hold leads over their party presidential rivals in Nevada, according to a statewide poll released Sunday.

In head-to-head matchups in the general election, the survey found that Giuliani was favored by 46 percent to Clinton's 38 percent, and Giuliani had 44 percent to Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's 42 percent.

The poll of 600 voters was conducted Tuesday through Thursday by Research 2000 for the Reno Gazette-Journal and KRNV-TV. It has a margin of error of plus of minus 4 percent.

In the GOP field, the survey found Giuliani was backed by 38 percent to Sen. John McCain's 18 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's 13 percent and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's 4 percent.

Among Democrats, Clinton was supported by 32 percent to Obama's 20 percent. Former Vice President Al Gore and former Sen. John Edwards each had 11 percent, while New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former Gen. Wesley Clark each had 2 percent.

In other possible matchups in the general election, McCain had 44 percent to Clinton's 39 percent, while Giuliani had 46 percent to Edwards' 40 percent and Giuliani had 45 percent to Gore's 42 percent.

Giuliani, during a weekend visit to Reno, said the poll results were not "too relevant right now" because the primaries and caucuses are still nearly a year away.

"I don't get too elated by any polls now or disappointed, because it is too early," the former New York City mayor said. "The candidates who are behind still have a good chance. We still have a long way to go."

Clinton spokesman Blake Zeff said the numbers were encouraging for Clinton but the election still is a long way away.

"We're very proud of the support, but we're going to take nothing for granted, and we're going to continue to work hard for every vote," he said.

Nevada, a key battleground state the last two elections, moved its Democratic presidential caucuses to Jan. 19, between Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus and the New Hampshire primary.

Nevada Republicans followed suit last week by announcing plans to move up their caucuses to Feb. 7.

"I think 2008 is the Democrats' election to lose," said Republican Eric Herzik, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. "There are all kinds of historical factors that suggest that should be the case.

"That said, Hillary Clinton is trailing the second-place Republican (McCain) in the poll. That's interesting," he added.

Clinton actually is in a statistical tie with McCain because of the poll's margin of error.