The Iowa Poll shows likely caucus participants have become a little less fond of Dean. In November, 73 percent of those with an opinion about him rated their feelings toward him favorably, and 27 percent rated him unfavorably. In the new poll, 63 percent regard him favorably and 37 percent unfavorably.

By comparison, 85 percent in the latest poll say their feelings toward Edwards, a candidate running on a theme of staying positive, are favorable. Kerry's favorability rating is virtually the same at 84 percent.

Poll participant Jon Torgerson, a Drake philosophy professor from Urbandale, said Kerry was his first choice for president, but he might change his mind.

"I like his position on education, on taxes. I think he would be very good at pointing out what a bad president (George W.) Bush is," said Torgerson, 61. "Also, in a sense, I've sort of forgiven him for his bad position on the war in Iraq. The position he took (in support of the war) was a mistake and he should have known it, but I think he's learned from it."

Torgerson said he still could be persuaded to support another candidate. "I think that there are a number of good candidates, and there's just so much going on it's hard to keep track of everybody," he said. "So if someone pointed a few things out, I might very well switch. A few months ago, I was a Dean supporter, and I think Edwards has a lot going for him, too."

Besides the economy and health care, the war in Iraq has been a key issue in the race for the Democratic nomination. Dean and Kucinich have stressed their opposition to the war from the beginning. Gephardt, Kerry and Edwards voted for a resolution authorizing President Bush to go to war, but they have harshly criticized the Republican incumbent for his handling of the situation.

When Saddam Hussein was captured last month, Dean insisted that the nation wasn't any safer with the former Iraqi dictator in custody. The Iowa Poll shows 54 percent of likely caucus participants agree with Dean. Thirty-one percent say the United States is safer because of Saddam's capture.

Poll respondent Daniel Schluter is a dairy farmer from Marengo who backs Dean partly because of his anti-war stance.

"He's against the war and he does a good job with health care reform. I think he'd end up being a good leader and take America back from all the big shots," said Schluter, 32.

Each candidate has tried to make the case that he has the best chance of beating Bush in the November election. Many Democrats are upset with Bush's policies and want to settle scores from the bitterly contested 2000 election that ended in the Florida recount.

The poll shows likely caucus participants are ready to put pragmatism ahead of principle. Fifty-nine percent say it's more important that a Democratic candidate appeal to a large swath of voters across the country, while 32 percent say it's more important to have a candidate who will uphold the party's core principles.

Poll participant Michael Schroeder, 52, of Ossian is drawn to Edwards partly because he thinks the North Carolinian is more electable than other candidates.

"I like the idea he's from the South and he can pull in more of the states. I don't think anyone from the East can make it," said Schroeder, who works at a landfill.