DES MOINES (USA): Democrat Hillary Clinton holds a narrow lead in Iowa four days before the state opens the presidential nominating race, while Republicans Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney are virtually tied, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Sunday.

Hillary, a New York senator, led Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois 31 per cent to 27 per cent, with former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards a close third at 24 per cent and no other Democratic contender registering in double-digits.

Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, held a statistically insignificant one-point edge over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 29 per cent to 28 per cent. Arizona Sen. John McCain was a distant third with 11 per cent.

Three Republicans, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, registered 8 per cent in the poll.—Reuters