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Barack Obama has widened his lead over Hillary Clinton and John Edwards in the contest among Iowa Democracts, while Mike Huckabee sits atop the Republican field in the closely-watched Des Moines Register poll. The lead of both candidates is larger than than 3.5 percent margin of error in the survey, which was conducted Dec. 27-30.

Obama led with 32 percent, up from 28 percent in the Register’s November poll, with Clinton at 25 percent and Edwards at 24 percent, about where both were last time. The poll said one of the factors favoring Obama was that Democratic caucusgoers say they prefer change and unity over other leadership characteristics.That’s been Obama’s theme while Clinton has emphasized her experience.

On the Republican side, Huckabee leads Romney 32 percent to 26 percent with John McCain the only other candidate is double digits, with 13 percent. That lead is about the same he held in November despite Romney’s redoubling of his efforts to head off the Huckabee surge. McCain showed movement, as he has in other polls here and elsewhere, by increasing his support by six points since the last survey. Rudy Giuliani, who had been at 13 percent in November, fell back to 5 percent.