The Iowa poll found that respondents who identified themselves as "born again" or "evangelical" are more likely to back Huckabee, a Baptist minister. "If Huckabee can motivate religious conservatives to attend the caucuses in large numbers, he may well threaten Romney and close some of the overall gap," Redlawsk said.

Huckabee came in third among likely Republican voters in the new poll, with 12.8 percent. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the national front-runner, was second behind Romney, with 13.1 percent.

The newest GOP contender, actor and former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee, was fourth with 11.4 percent, while Sen. John McCain of Arizona trails with just 6 percent. McCain, whose campaign has had financial problems, had polled as high as 20.9 percent earlier in the year.

Clinton has the support of 28.9 percent of likely Democratic caucus voters in Iowa, while Obama has 26.6 percent and Edwards has 20 percent. Both Republicans and Democrats in the poll were asked to name the candidate they would vote for if the caucuses were held now.

Utah's presidential primary is Feb. 5, more than a month after the Iowa caucuses. Romney is by far the favorite among Utah Republicans, while the state's Democrats strongly back Obama.

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