New Polls

In Iowa, Dean leads Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, 29 percent to 21 percent, with Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts third at 18 percent. No other candidate is close.

In New Hampshire, Dean holds a solid lead of 34 percent of likely voters. Kerry has 20 percent, and Clark and Lieberman are tied for third at 8 percent.

Seven states vote on Feb. 3 - South Carolina, Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina leads in South Carolina with 16 percent. He's followed by Clark at 11 percent, Gephardt at 10 percent, Lieberman at 9 percent, the Rev. Al Sharpton of New York at 8 percent, Dean at 7 percent and Kerry at 3 percent.

The surveys in Iowa and New Hampshire show that Dean supporters there do not harbor doubts about former governor's ability to defeat Bush. Rather, it is emerging as a strong suit. Roughly a third of likely voters in Iowa and New Hampshire say Dean has the best chance of beating Bush next November, far more than say that about any other Democrat. In addition, Dean tends to run stronger among those who place a greater priority on defeating Bush than on nominating a candidate who agrees with them on the issues.

Dean's vocal opposition to the war in Iraq clearly has helped him build his lead in Iowa and New Hampshire. In both states, Dean draws a disproportionate share of the vote from war opponents and from voters who feel Democratic leaders backed the war because they were afraid to oppose the president. In Iowa, Dean leads Gephardt by roughly than two-to-one (37%-18%) among those who criticize Democratic leaders for not standing up to Bush. In New Hampshire, Dean holds a 42%-17% lead over Kerry among voters who express this view.

Comprehensive Pew poll results here.

Nationally Dean and Clark are tied at 15% followed by Gephardt and Lieberman at 12% and Kerry leading the bottom rung at 6%.