Iowa: Poll shows Dean, Gephardt in dead heat

[Karmadillo]

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2003/09/14/news/top_news/5a7e1bbb18879cb886256da1000cef82.txt

DES MOINES --- Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri are running a dead heat in the race to capture Iowa's Democratic caucuses, according to a Lee Enterprises poll of likely caucus-goers.

But the race, according to the poll, remains wide open. More than one-third of those surveyed said they are undecided. And more than half said they might pick a different candidate before Jan. 19, when Iowa's caucuses fire the starting gun on a sprint to the nomination.

Dean and Gephardt each received 19 percent backing from the 400 registered voters surveyed, including likely Democratic caucus-goers surveyed, including 49 independent voters who are "very likely'' to attend. U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts was third at 10 percent. The poll, conducted by Davenport-based PMR between Aug. 26 and Sept. 6 and on Sept. 10, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.

Both U.S. Sens. John Edwards of North Carolina and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut were the first choice of 6 percent. U.S. Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and the Rev. Al Sharpton of New York each were supported by 1 percent of those surveyed.

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