DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan 2, SPA -- Democrat Barack Obamapulled even with Hillary Clinton in Iowa, with John Edwardsclose behind, in a tightening three-way race one day before thefirst presidential nominating contest, according to aReuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Wednesday. Obama gained two points overnight and Clinton lost twopoints to deadlock at 28 percent among Democrats in Iowa, withEdwards in a statistical dead heat behind them at 26 percent. No other Democrat registered in double digits. The Republican race in Iowa also tightened, with formerArkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's lead over former MassachusettsGov. Mitt Romney sliced to two points, 28 percent to 26percent. Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Tennessee Sen. FredThompson were tied for third at 12 percent. "Both races are getting tighter as the caucuses getcloser," pollster John Zogby said. The rolling poll of 933 likely Democratic caucus-goers and907 likely Republican caucus-goers was taken Saturday throughTuesday and has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points foreach party. Obama, Clinton, and Edwards have battled for the topDemocratic spot for months in Iowa, which on Thursday kicks offthe state-by-state battle to choose Republican and Democraticcandidates for the November presidential election. Obama, an Illinois senator, made small gains amongindependents and solidified his strength among younger voters. Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, maintainedher strong lead among older voters. Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, remained the topsecond choice of Democrats. A candidate must have 15 percentsupport in each precinct to be viable or their supporters canswitch to another candidate. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/514007