The [Field] poll, released Tuesday, showed Dean is the choice of 16 percent of likely Democratic voters in California, followed by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., at 15 percent and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., at 14 percent.

Because the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points, the three candidates are essentially tied ... But the showing is still a significant achievement for Dean, who ranked fourth among the nine presidential candidates in an April Field Poll of registered Democrats, with just 7 percent.

In key presidential primary states, Democratic contender Sen. Bob Graham (Fla.) has stumbled badly in the fundraising political derby while Howard Dean's insurgent candidacy outpaced that of Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), an establishment favorite.

...Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) maintained a healthy lead in early primary states, pulling in over $93,000. Dean followed with $75,000, and Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) with $51,000. Kerry and Rep. Dick Gephardt (Mo.) were near even, with $41,000 and $36,000 respectively. Graham fared the worst in these states, with just $1,750.