Edwards picking up steam, poll shows

ALTOONA, Iowa — Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is showing signs of momentum as the campaign for the 2004 Iowa caucuses enters its final week, according to a new national public opinion poll.

The first-term North Carolina senator remains a long shot to win Iowa's leadoff nominating contest on Jan. 19, but he has picked up support in the past month.

"He could very well be one of the big stories to come out of this," said John Zogby, president of independent polling company Zogby International.

The Zogby poll, released Sunday, closely bunches the leading caucus contenders and underscored how critical the campaign's final seven days will be.

The poll showed former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean narrowly leading in Iowa with support from 25 percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers, down from 26 percent in December. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri was close behind with 23 percent, up from 22 percent last month.

Notably, however, Edwards moved to within striking distance of Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who has been polling in third place in Iowa. Edwards rose from 5 percent in December to 14 percent last week. Kerry also showed signs of improvement, rising from 9 percent in December to 15 percent.

Edwards has largely stayed out of the sometimes bitter squabbling among Dean, Gephardt and Kerry that has marked the race as Dean's rivals have tried to slow his rise.

"If you're looking for the candidate who does the best job of sniping at other Democrats, I'm not your man," Edwards told more than 500 Des Moines-area Democrats at Altoona's Adventureland Inn on Sunday.

Edwards has trailed Dean, Gephardt and Kerry since entering the race a year ago, but several recent events have benefited the former trial lawyer, who has campaigned heavily in Iowa as a Washington outsider from humble beginnings.

Edwards received the endorsement of the Des Moines Register on Sunday and was widely viewed as having performed well during the debate Jan. 4, sponsored by the newspaper.

The senator touted the endorsement and said his Iowa campaign, which has included stops in all 99 Iowa counties, was picking up steam. But he declined to say whether the momentum lifted his expectations for the caucuses.

"I expect to keep doing my work here, and we'll see what happens," Edwards told reporters after the Altoona rally.