US Democratic presidential front-runner Mr Howard Dean held a shrinking three-point lead and Mr John Kerry moved into a dead heat with Mr Richard Gephardt for second place in Iowa five days before the state's caucuses, according to a Reuters/MSNBC/Zogby poll released today.
In a shifting race for the Democratic campaign's first big prize, Mr Dean dropped four percentage points to 24 per cent in the rolling three-day tracking poll and Mr Kerry gained four points to tie Mr Gephardt in second place at 21 per cent.
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards gained one percentage point to 15 per cent, setting up a tight race to the finish among the four top contenders in Monday's caucuses.
Mr Kerry is contending with both Mr Dean and Mr Gephardt among what were considered some of their strongest voting blocs, challenging Mr Dean for college-educated voters and Mr Gephardt for union votes.
"This is officially a three-way race," Zogby said.
Nine Democrats are vying for the right to challenge President George W. Bush in November, with Dean and Gephardt battling back and forth for the top spot in Iowa polls for months.
Mr Dean, the former Vermont governor, holds a big lead in polls in New Hampshire, which has a January 27th primary one week after Iowa, but could face a growing challenge there from retired Gen. Wesley Clark.