From David Yepsen's column:

Democrats have pulled ahead of Republicans in voter registrations in Iowa - the first time that's happened since 1994, according to state registration records. ...

Gee, why is that? It couldn't have anything to do with Vilsack's blanket restoration of voting rights for convicted felons last year, estimated to have affected 30,000 to 50,000 criminals living in Iowa, could it?

Yepsen speculates in other areas, including the war in Iraq and currently laughable notion of economic jitters, but completely misses the boat when it comes the fact that Iowa now has more convicted felons registered to vote. It would make sense that these felons would vote Democrat, at least in Polk County.