Clinton, Romney ahead in early states

Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney can both take heart from the latest poll results. They're leading in all three crucial early-voting states: Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

On the Democratic side, Clinton has jumped ahead of Barack Obama and John Edwards in Iowa, where her rivals are trying to stop her nomination express, according to the new American Research Group survey. Clinton claims support from 32 percent of likely caucus-goers in Iowa, 40 percent of likely primary voters in New Hampshire, and 41 percent in South Carolina. Obama is second and Edwards third in all three states.

On the Republican side, Romney continues to lead in Iowa with 27 percent of likely caucus-goers, while Mike Huckabee has jumped to second with 19 percent, according to the survey. Romney now also leads in South Carolina with 29 percent and in New Hampshire with 30 percent. Rudy Giuliani is second in those two states.

Each state poll was conducted Oct. 26-29 among 600 likely voters on both the Democratic Republican sides and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.