Edwards and Obama Leading in New Iowa Poll

John Edwards and Barack Obama are leading in a new KCCI/Research 2000 poll in Iowa. Both are tied at 22%. Tom Vilsack is 3rd at 12% and Hillary Clinton is next at 10%. Check out John Deeth for an interesting take on the numbers, calling the poll a 3-way tie (I also agree with John about Al Gore's 7% being amazing considering that he has done next to nothing to indicate he is running).

The numbers are basically where I thought they would be, except for Obama. I expected Obama to be in the mid teens at this point. Considering that his name recognition isn't as good as the other candidates, he is ready to pull away and become the front runner, or he is just riding the hype right now. Obama better have gotten Sen. Harkin a nice Christmas gift for letting him speak at this year's Harkin Steak Fry. Harkin has gotten behind Vilsack, but Obama's benefitted from his appearence at the Steak Fry. Obama was introduced to a large portion of Iowa activists at the event and outshone Vilsack. The exposure at the Steak Fry might have pushed Obama to the front of the pack in Iowa.

**Update**
Here's MyDD's take on the poll.