(Washington-AP) Jan. 26, 2004 - A new poll says Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards and John Kerry are tied for the lead in South Carolina with several rivals within striking distance.

The American Research Group poll released Sunday says Edwards was at 21 percent and John Kerry was at 17 percent.

They are followed by the Reverend Al Sharpton at 15 percent and Wesley Clark at 14 percent. Howard Dean was at nine percent, Joe Lieberman at five percent and Dennis Kucinich was at one percent.

Eighteen percent were undecided.

South Carolina will hold its primary February 3rd, a week after New Hampshire's primary on Tuesday. The results in New Hampshire are likely to shake up the race in the states that follow, much as the Iowa caucuses reshaped the New Hampshire race this week.

Kerry won 38 percent of the vote in Iowa, followed by Edwards with 32 percent, Dean at 18 percent and Dick Gephardt with 11 percent. Gephardt's poor showing prompted him to drop out of the race. Kucinich is at one percent. Sharpton, Clark and Lieberman all skipped Iowa.

posted 6:42am by Chris Rees