Obama Widens Iowa Lead

Barack Obama gained on Hillary Clinton and John Edwards in the last Des Moines Register poll before Thursday's Iowa caucuses, pulling 32% of likely caucusgoers, to Clinton's 25% and Edwards' 24%. Obama's widening lead—4 points up from late November and the widest all year—comes in part from a surge of first-time caucusgoers, the Register reports. The GOP survey shows Mike Huckabee maintaining his lead over Mitt Romney, 32% to 26%.

The Democratic hopefuls' feverish efforts to recruit new caucusgoers appear to be paying off: 60% of those polled said they would be attending for the first time. Obama owes 72% of his support to first-timers, Clinton 58%, and Edwards 55%. Still, the race is fluid, with a third of likely caucusgoers saying they could be persuaded to change their votes. (More Barack Obama stories.)