In the early voting state of Iowa, Democrat Hillary Clinton holds a dwindling lead over rival Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney has opened a big margin over rival Rudy Giuliani in the 2008 presidential race, a new state poll said on Monday.

The Hawkeye poll, conducted by the University of Iowa, showed Clinton at about 29 percent, barely edging Obama at 27 percent. In August, Clinton led Obama by 25 percent to 19 percent in Iowa.

John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee, fell to 20 percent from 26 percent in August, the poll showed.

“No other candidates seem to be making a move,” among Democrats, said poll director David Redlawsk of the University of Iowa.

He said Clinton performed better among women and older voters, while Obama scored better among men and young voters. Historically, older Iowans turn out for the contest at a higher rate than young voters.

Among Republicans, Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, held a strong double-digit lead over Giuliani, with 36 percent to the former New York mayor’s 13.1 percent.

Giuliani was essentially in a second-place tie with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was at 12.8 percent, and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson at 11.4 percent. Arizona Sen. John McCain was at 6 percent in the poll.

The growth for Romney, who registered support from 28 percent of state Republicans in August, followed his triumph in a straw poll in Iowa in August that is viewed as an early test of strength in the state.

Huckabee finished a surprise second in the straw poll, and used it to climb from 1.8 percent in August.

“Republican caucus-goers are finally starting to make some choices,” Redlawsk said, noting Romney was the only Republican who polled better among women than men. 

The Democratic race in Iowa is much tighter than in national polls, where Clinton, the New York senator, has a wide lead over Obama, an Illinois senator. Giuliani leads the Republican field in national polls, well ahead of Romney.

Iowa has set a Jan. 3, 2008, date for its kick-off presidential contest, which can generate a huge burst of momentum for the winner or for candidates who perform better than expected.

The poll of 306 Democratic caucus-goers had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points, and the poll of 285 Democratic caucus-goers had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.8 percentage points.