Poll shows Republican Romney, Democrat Edwards lead in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Mitt Romney and Democrat John Edwards are atop a poll of likely Iowa caucus voters, and activists say that's because they've spent so much time and energy in that state.

The poll published in the Des Moines Sunday Register shows Romney was backed by 30 percent, ahead of Arizona Senator John McCain with 18 percent and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani with 17 percent.

Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, was ahead with 29 percent of those surveyed, compared to 23 percent for Illinois Senator Barack Obama and 21 percent for New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The poll was conducted May 12th through 16th.

Democratic strategist Matt Paul says Romney's lead could be due to his early television commercials in Iowa, boosting his name identification.

Des Moines lawyer Rob Tully says the poll is just an indication that the three top Democratic candidates would have to battle for a caucus victory.

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