Poll gives Clinton 14-point Iowa lead

MANCHESTER, N.H., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A new poll surveying the U.S. presidential race indicates that Sen. Hillary Clinton leads the Democratic pack in Iowa but the GOP contest is a dead heat.

The American Research Group poll of people who plan to participate in the Iowa caucuses, has Clinton, at 34 percent approval, leading her closest rivals, Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards, by at least 14 points.

Among Republicans, the poll has Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 23 percent approval and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 21 percent.

The same poll indicates Clinton maintains her lead among likely voters in the New Hampshire primary. Romney and Arizona Sen. John McCain are placed in a virtual tie in New Hampshire.

The survey shows roughly 10 percent of the voters polled in both states remain undecided.

Clinton and her Democratic rivals expended energy in both states trying to distance themselves from one another, the Financial Times reported. Clinton advocated experience; Obama spoke on the promse of change.

The poll, conducted Dec. 20-23, surveyed 600 likely Democratic and Republican participants in each state and contained a margin of error of 4 percentage points.