Latest poll shows Obama´s lead in Iowa

Source: Xinhua | 01-04-2008 08:08

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Barack Obama has surpassed his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in a poll to top the Democratic presidential candidate list, indicating a much more uncertain caucuses result in Iowa on Thursday night.

According to the Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released hours before the Iowa caucuses kick off, the Illinois Senator was at 31 percent among likely Democratic caucus-goers, four percentage points more than former North Carolina Senator John Edwards.

New York Senator Clinton has seen her rate decline overnight from the No. 1 to the third place with 24 percent, while other candidates could not, according to the poll, survive with a two-digit number.

In the Republican race, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's lead was widened over his rival, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney by 31 percent to 25 percent.

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson seized the third place with11 percent, while Arizona Sen. John McCain slipped two points to 10 percent, the poll shows.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has virtually bypassed the state and counted on later primaries or caucuses in larger states.

A total of 905 likely Democratic caucus-goers and 914 likely Republican caucus-goers were polled from Sunday to Wednesday. However, there were about 6 percent of Republicans and 5 percent of Democrats undecided, leaving room for late swings.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei