Richardson gains in Iowa, Edwards leads

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 27 (UPI) -- A poll released by the presidential campaign of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson showed him gaining support in Iowa, but John Edwards is still in the lead.

The poll of 500 likely Democratic caucus goers, conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin and Associates, found the former U.S. senator from North Carolina in the lead with 34 percent, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., at 24 percent, Sen. Barrack Obama, D-Ill., at 17 percent and Richardson at 13 percent, The Hill reported Wednesday.

However, among those deemed by the Richardson campaign to be the "likeliest" caucus goers -- those who participated in the 2004 caucus, voted in the 2006 midterms and say they will "definitely" attend the 2008 caucus -- the candidate moved ahead of Obama, 18 percent to 16 percent, with Edwards continuing to lead with 31 percent and Clinton following with 23 percent.

The poll's margin of error was 4.4 percent.