Latest poll shows mixed presidential field

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The latest Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll indicated a dead heat between Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in New Hampshire.

The poll showed that 32 percent of New Hampshire Democrats likely to participate in the Jan. 8 primaries support Obama, while 30 percent support Clinton. The statistical margin of error makes that a dead heat.

The situation was tighter in Iowa where the Times/Bloomberg poll showed a statistical three-way tie between Obama, Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.

Polls in September showed Clinton with a 19-percentage-point lead over Obama among likely participants in the New Hampshire primaries.

The Times/Bloomberg poll showed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with a clear lead over his GOP rivals with 34 percent support of likely voters in the New Hampshire primary, but the contest in Iowa shows former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee leading Romney 34 percentage points to 23.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., surged from the lower tiers in the Republican field to second place in Iowa with 21 percent approval.

The telephone survey interviewed 2,145 registered voters in Iowa and 1,279 in New Hampshire Dec. 20-23. The Democratic margin of error was 4 percentage points in both states. The Republican field had a 6 percent margin of error in Iowa and 5 percent in New Hampshire.