Hillary Clinton’s lead has narrowed dramatically from the last Monmouth Iowa poll in December. | AP Photo Poll: Clinton leads Sanders by 5 points in Iowa

Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders in Iowa — but not by much, according to a new survey of likely Democratic caucus-goers.

According to the latest Monmouth University Poll, the former secretary of state has the support of 47 percent of the likely Iowa electorate, with the Vermont senator behind her by 5 percentage points at 42 percent. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley trails with 6 percent.


Clinton’s lead has shrunk dramatically from the Monmouth Iowa poll in December. At that time, she held a commanding 22-point advantage, 55 percent to 33 percent. O'Malley's share remains unchanged.

Women in the latest sample preferred Clinton to Sanders, 50 percent to 38 percent. But Sanders did better among men, 46 percent of whom said they choose him over Clinton, with 43 percent.

Age also seemed to be a factor: Clinton led Sanders among those 50 and older, 54 percent to 34 percent, while Sanders had the upper hand with those younger than 50 — 59 percent to Clinton's 31 percent.

The standings have solidified since December as 55 percent of those surveyed said they are “completely decided” — up from 41 percent in December — and 30 percent indicated a “strong preference.” Just 8 percent were undecided.

The RealClearPolitics average of Iowa polls has Clinton ahead by a nose, leading Sanders by two-tenths of a percentage point. (The gold standard of Iowa horse-race surveys, the Des Moines Register poll, comes out on Saturday evening, two days before Iowa caucuses begin.)

Monmouth's telephone poll of 504 likely Democratic caucus-goers was conducted Jan. 23-26 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.