DES MOINES -- Reporters from Washington, based in Des Moines for the week, are striving to get to as many candidate events as they can. It sure helps, though, when candidates make swings through the state capitol. It's a good idea, too: Des Moines is in the center of the state and serves as a perfect midway point for bus tours headed in any direction.

No wonder, then, that the state's biggest city will see three consecutive days of evening rallies by the three leading presidential contenders. The events are great visuals, well attended by energetic crowds and easy for reporters to cover.

John Edwards drew about 1,000 people to a rally downtown yesterday. Tonight, Barack Obama ends his day at a rally in a middle school gym on the east side of town. And Hillary Clinton finishes off the year tomorrow with a New Years party at the Capitol.

With four days to go, expect the orbits candidates take around Des Moines to shrink. Obama, for one, already has events scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.