Democratic strategist Matt Paul said Romney's lead in the poll could be due to his decision to launch early television commercials in Iowa, boosting his name identification.

"It's very good news for political consultants," said Paul. "It could have an impact on when others decide to go up."

Although he supports Edwards, Des Moines lawyer Rob Tully said the poll was just an indication that the three top Democratic candidates would have to battle for a caucus victory.

"The real campaigning hasn't event begun yet, the house parties and the smaller events where people get a real feel for the candidates," said Tully. "It's way early yet."

Hoffman, the Iowa GOP chairman, cautioned against reading too much into the poll. Such early polling is subject to huge changes in the months leading to the state's precinct caucuses, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 14, 2008.

A high-profile Republican straw poll planned Aug. 11 could alter those polls and drive some candidates from the race.

"In the last few months, you've seen the polls change," said Hoffmann. "After the straw poll, things are going to change again."

Romney made a splash with a $21 million fundraising haul in the first three months of the year, but has struggled to improve his standing beyond single digits in national popularity polls since then.

Over five months, the former Massachusetts governor has laid down roughly $4 million for TV ads, mainly focusing on Iowa and New Hampshire as he sought to introduce himself to potential voters.

In the ads, Romney casts himself as an outsider who will go to Washington to change it and fix the country's biggest problems.

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Contributing: Liz Sidoti.