Crunch Time

Some bad polling news today for John Edwards.

Barack Obama, with whom Edwards is competing for “change” voters, shows a big improvement and a sizeable lead in the final Des Moines Register poll, which is out today. The Register‘s poll is very well respected, and analysts look to it every four years for what may be the best (although still imperfect) indicator of how things are swinging in the days leading up to the caucuses. Here’s a chart from the Register:

And in case you needed more proof that it is crunch time in Iowa, check out Edwards’ schedule for the next day and a half. Today he launched a 36-hour, 16-event, all-night final push that will last until tomorrow evening’s caucuses. The events include a meeting at a supporter’s house at 2:15 a.m.