Dean leads Democrats, but many undecided (Iowa)

DesMoines Register

Dean leads Democrats, but many undecided
By JONATHAN ROOS
Register Staff Writer
08/03/2003


Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean narrowly leads U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt as the Democratic presidential frontrunner in a new Des Moines Register poll of Iowans likely to participate in the Democratic caucuses.

The Iowa Poll shows Dean, who has emerged nationally as a major contender for the Democratic nomination, is the first choice of 23 percent of those who say they definitely or probably will attend the January precinct caucuses, which kick off the nominating season for the nation.

"I like his stand on the war in Iraq," said poll respondent Wendy Parker, 39, an assistant principal from Newton. "He's thoughtful and willing to take risks, willing to speak out for what he thinks is right."

Gephardt, a Missouri congressman who won the Iowa caucuses in 1988 but went on to lose the Democratic nomination to Michael Dukakis, is favored by 21 percent in the poll. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry was third with 14 percent.

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* In competing with Gephardt and others for the support of the labor vote, a key Democratic constituency, Dean is the first choice of 29 percent of likely caucus participants from households with a union member. Gephardt, who received pivotal support from labor groups in 1988, is supported by 24 percent from union households. Kerry's share is 11 percent.

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http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/21906001.html