COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- The first Tuesday with the U.S. Democratic presidential candidates competing in multiple races dawned with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., maintaining his lead.
Primaries and caucuses in Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Carolina were on schedule to start in the mini-Super Tuesday that some analysts predict will narrow the field.
Kerry was polling strong in all of the states, but faced challenges in South Carolina and Oklahoma. Sen. John Edwards, who was born in South Carolina, was polling just ahead of Kerry Monday in that state, while retired Gen. Wesley Clark was expected to do well in Oklahoma.
The other four candidates -- Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, civil rights activist Al Sharpton and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich -- polled significantly behind Kerry
