Barack Obama Leads in Iowa on Honesty and Trustworthiness

In a new Washington Post-ABC News poll released Thursday, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is leading his top rivals.

According to the poll, Obama is leading the pack with 27 percent, while John Edwards and Hillary Clinton are in a statistical stalemate of 26 percent. Among the rest of second and third tier candidates, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is leading this category with 11 percent, while Joseph Biden and Dennis Kucinich are both at 2 percent -- a little edge over Chris Dodd, who is at 1 percent.

It seems likeability, honesty and trustworthiness may perhaps be the issue on the minds of caucus-goers in the Hawkeye State. Among those polled, Clinton has the lowest number of 14 percent on issues of honesty, trustworthiness and honesty. In this category, Obama leads the field with a high majority, with Edwards at No. 2.

Both Edwards and Obama were also rated best on issues like Iraq and understanding of people's concerns than Clinton who came in a distance third.

Clinton is most vulnerable among Obama's top rivals on the key attributes of trust and vision. However, she is polling fine on the issue of Washington experience -- more than any of her top rivals.

In the same poll, nearly 9 in 10 likely Iowa caucus-voters say that Iraq was not a worthwhile policy, with an unprecedented majority saying so "strongly." This is an indication that Iraq may perhaps become the top issue on the mind of caucus-goers.

Iowa is not just important for Edwards; it is most essential for him to win the state in order to match up with his two top rivals who have more money and buzz than him.

In 2004, Edwards finished a surprising second in Iowa. He is courting labor workers in order to win the state. Even before any of his rivals officially came into the race, he has been running a grassroots campaign in the state through the mobilization of labor unions to persuade state and federal legislators to increase the minimum wages.

Clinton, on the other hand, has been running in the state for more than four years. But Obama came in to the race about six months ago with no national name recognition, and no organizational structure in the state. It is for this reason that political historians are amazed by Obama's performance at this stage of the campaign.

When voters are asked on whom among the Democrats have campaigned vigorously and strongly in Iowa, Edwards and Clinton are the most noticeable.

Obama is also considered as the best candidate with new ideas and new direction -- with 37 percent saying so. He is seconded by John Edwards at 31 percent, while Clinton is trailing poorly on this issue with 15 percent. Voters in the Hawkeye state see her as the conventional wisdom candidate. Half of caucus-goers rated Obama's message as the best.

At this stage of the campaign, all the candidates have more work to do as Iowans are known for making a definitive choice for a candidate at the last week of the campaign. Iowa remains a strong gateway to pick the nominee for both political parties.

Resources: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_080307.html?hpid=topnews