DES MOINES -- Late in the race for Iowa, Barack Obama and John Edwards each won new fans over the last few days, giving them potential boosts as the contest comes to a close.

The quirky rules of the Iowa Democratic Party's caucuses Thursday open the door for some good old fashioned deal-making. Four years ago, Rep. Dennis Kucinich lent his support to Edwards, urging his fans to vote with Edwards if Kucinich failed to reach the 15% viability threshold. This time, Kucinich has told his backers to join Obama's forces. Kucinich said he and Obama had "one thing in common: Change."

The move could give Obama a needed boost in what remains a razor-thin contest. Kucinich earned one percent in the latest Des Moines Register poll, and if a majority of his supporters move to Obama when his viability expires, Kucinich could help push the senator over the top. Obama issued a statement today thanking Kucinich for his support.

Edwards has a new backer to take Kucinich's place, though. Two-time presidential contender Ralph Nader said yesterday that he will back the former senator, urging liberals to get behind Edwards on caucus night. In an interview with the Politico in Muscatine, a small town on the Iowa-Illinois border, Nader took the opportunity to lash out at Hillary Clinton for using empty rhetoric.

Backing from Nader is a two-sided proposition for Edwards. On one hand, Nader's endorsement sends a signal to the most liberal Iowans who might otherwise have caucused for Kucinich or stayed away altogether. On the other, many in the Democratic base still blame Nader for throwing the 2000 election to President Bush.