Island son Barack Obama is shining bright Iowa where the first presidential caucus will be held Jan. 3, 2008.

A new poll shows him inching ahead of national front-runner Hillary Clinton in Iowa.

"You want to see the dance. This is the Obama dance," said Hawaii for Obama organizer Chuck Freedman while discussing the poll with KGMB9.

The poll, done by The Washington Post and ABC News, show 30 percent of those polled support Obama, 26 percent support Clinton, 22 percent back John Edwards and 11 percent favor Bill Richardson.

"I saw that and put on the happy shirt. It's really great. You know just about a year ago we began to plan the draft Obama movement here in Hawaii and here we are almost a year later and we're pulling ahead in Iowa. It's just terrific," Freedman added.

KGMB9 political analyst Dan Boylan said Tuesday winning in Iowa is important.

"If he wins Iowa, then New Hampshire will give him a second look, then South Carolina will give him a second look, then Nevada will give him a look. Those are the next primaries before you hit those super primaries," Boylan remarked.

However, Boylan said, winning in Iowa does not guarantee Obama the Democratic spot in the general election.

"Pat Robertson won Iowa in 1988, if you'll remember. A minister won the Republican nomination and of course that was end of story. That was the end of Pat Robertson," said Boylan.

The second election barometer will be the New Hampshire primary Jan. 22. In that state Clinton has a sizable advantage.

A CNN poll released Tuesday shows her with 36 percent of the vote in New Hampshire, Obama with 22 percent, followed by Edwards with 13 percent and Richardson with 12 percent.

"Realistically speaking, there is a long way to go. We know that and we're going to be in this to the very end supporting our guy the way we've been supporting him up till now," Freedman said of Obama.

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