Final Zogby Iowa Poll: Obama Surges to 4 Point Lead Over John Edwards with Hillary Fading to Third

[flpoljunkie]

Obama grabs Iowa lead from Edwards
Thu Jan 3, 2008 7:20am EST

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama surged to a four-point lead over John Edwards in Iowa, with Hillary Clinton fading to third just hours before the first presidential nominating contest, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Thursday.

Obama and Edwards gained ground overnight in the tracking poll, and Clinton fell four points to third place -- a finish that, if it held, would deal a dramatic setback to the one-time Democratic front-runner.

Obama was at 31 percent among likely Democratic caucus-goers, Edwards at 27 percent and Clinton 24 percent. No other Democrat was in double digits.

In the Republican race, Mike Huckabee expanded his lead to six points, 31 to 25 percent, over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the one-time leader in Iowa who has attacked Huckabee for his record as Arkansas governor.

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson is in third place in the Republican race at 11 percent and Arizona Sen. John McCain slipped two points to 10 percent. Texas Rep. Ron Paul also registered 10 percent.

"There is a clear Clinton fade," pollster John Zogby said. "None of it has been dramatic, but it has been steady.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0264367920080103

[jefferson_dem]

1. Woo hoo!

...leading the pack!

[SaveElmer]

2. Really...where did you pick that up?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3934041

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3933679

[Colobo]

3. Elmer, what's your take on these numbers?

[SaveElmer]

13. I have no idea...nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. miss inevitable won't be missed.

Go Edwards! Go Obama!

Either one would be great in November.

[Colobo]

5. You got it!

[Dawgs]

6. Right on.

[Robbins]

7. Great news

While I am for Edwards Obama would be great.A Shame Biden and not Hillary could be third since then
we would have our best candiates In Double digets.I am sure Hillary's people will bash It since they
only like polls that are good for them.This also suggests the Des Moines poll should be taken
seriously.

[Nimrod2005]

8. It is all over for the HRC - Gracias a Dios!

[Bitwit1234]

9. Why is it....the Obamas Idolers are the only ones obsessed with

the polls. I can find five or six polls with Hillary leading. The Zogby poll I have says Hillary31..Obama 27.....Edwards...24. So it just depends and they don't mean crap.

Hillary will be the next president................The Intra Politics Ticker Securities has Hillary at 63% to be president.

Obama at 29%....so there's another poll. Hillary is the odds on favorite on the stock market...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. I can find a poll that says what I want it to say, too.

which means what?

[flpoljunkie]

15. The Zogby poll you cite is old. The newest Zogby poll has Obama surging to first place at 31%, up 4.

[CoffeeCat]

11. This reflects what is happening on the ground here...

I've been saying this for a long time, much to the dismay of the Hillary supporters.

I'm only one little person, in one neighborhood within my precinct--but this poll reflects
exactly what I'm hearing all around me.

I've been calling my friends and neighbors--and I have our precinct list and have been making
contact with people.

Repeatedly, I hear the same mantra, "Anyone but Hillary...please." It's all Obama and Edwards
and it continues to trend that way--on the ground--as people make up their minds. People who
have been undecided up to this point--are overwhelming trending toward Obama and Edwards.

Frankly, I'm relieved. I am astounded that Hillary entered our state and insulted all of us
with her closed-off, Rovian-style campaign complete with orchestrated media events and planted
questions. Her style left barely any room for challenging her or asking her questions.

The last Des Moines Register poll shows her trending downward, with Edwards and Obama ticking
upward.

I want change. I want someone to take a sledgehammer to the BushCo corruption. Obama or Edwards
will do that. We must have a change candidate at this most critical hour. Our entire future depends
on it.

[AtomicKitten]

12. As it should be.

Gobama!

[suston96]

14. Zogby usually works his final numbers to match the prevailing winds.

But no matter how Hillary does in Iowa or New Hampshire, it will not be mortal in any way, no matter what the media says. She has money and organization to make it through Feb 5 - when the nation's Democrats speak.

If Hillary gets a 24% in Iowa, it means she gets 16 delegates out of 57? That's a start.

[flpoljunkie]

16. Wolfson said on MSNBC they're 'gonna keep going 'til at least February 5th.'

"At least February 5th?" Perhaps a Freudian slip here by Wolfson whose looking at their internal polls, as well, and already looking at very possible losses in Iowa and New Hampshire?

[Colobo]

17. At least, dear Howie? Don't worry.

We'll make sure Obama beats you guys real good quickly so that you don't have to wait that long to concede.