Dole Holds 15-Point Lead in Poll of Iowa Republicans

DES MOINES — Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas holds a commanding 15-point lead over Vice President George Bush in an independent newspaper poll of Iowans who say they intend to vote in the state’s Feb. 8 Republican presidential preference caucuses.

The Des Moines Register reported Sunday that a survey of 409 likely GOP voters in the last week found Dole the choice of 41% and Bush 26%. Former religion broadcaster Pat Robertson was favored by 11%, New York Rep. Jack Kemp 8%, former Delaware Gov. Pierre S. (Pete) du Pont IV 4% and former Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. 1%. Only 9% said they were undecided.

The statistical margin of error in such a sample is 4.8%, the Register said. The actual margin could be larger, however, because of the difficulty pollsters have in identifying people who actually go to such events as a party caucus.

A previous Register poll published Dec. 27 listed preferences among Republicans this way: Dole 37%, Bush 33%, Kemp 9%, Robertson 8%, Du Pont 5% and Haig less than 1%.