DesMoinesRegister: Dean leads Democrats, but many undecided

The Iowa Poll shows Dean, who has emerged nationally as a major contender for the Democratic nomination, is the first choice of 23 percent of those who say they definitely or probably will attend the January precinct caucuses, which kick off the nominating season for the nation.

Gephardt 21, Kerry 14, Lieberman 10, Edwards 5[!], Kucinich 4, the rest 1 each.

The Iowa Poll, taken July 22-29, has a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.

...Dean is generally well regarded. Among those who are familiar enough with him to have an opinion, 38 percent rate their feelings toward him as very favorable. That compares with 33 percent who view Kerry very favorably, 29 percent for Gephardt and 14 percent for Lieberman.

...Among Iowans polled who say they definitely will attend the Democratic caucuses, which is a firmer commitment than those saying they probably will attend, Dean's lead grows to 10 points over Gephardt.

(A ten-point lead is much harder to explain away as 'margin of error'...)

"This isn't as much of a niche candidacy as some people have wanted to portray it," said J. Ann Selzer, the Register's pollster.

To borrow a phrase:

Indeed.