One week until the Iowa caucuses, and things are getting tighter. Dan Balz in the Washington Post sets the scene.

The press needs the ongoing excitement of a horse-race, so dosen't want the annointing of the Democratic candidate before a vote has been cast.

Howard Dean's lead is narrowing. But that dosen't seem to be a direct result of his remarks on a Canadian show four years ago, when he appeared to disparage the caucus process.

There's a good, meaty profile of Dean and what drives him in the New Yorker .

Steve