The Hartford Courant: The Howard Dean Phenomenon

[Larkspur]

Betcha Lieberman is pissed at this editorial in today's Courant
http://www.ctnow.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-dean.artaug11,0,5782501.story?coll=hc-headlines-editorials

Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean must be the envy of his rivals. He was on the cover of Time, Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report last week. He was on CNN's "Larry King Live" and NBC's "Today" show. He raised more money in the second quarter of the year than his eight party rivals. Polls in New Hampshire and Iowa show him running ahead of most of the candidates.

Yet he is still regarded in some political circles as a second-tier candidate - second to Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, John Edwards of North Carolina and Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri. Mr. Dean may not mind being underestimated. Recent second-tier contenders who rose to the top are Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and even Ronald Reagan in his earlier runs.

One presidential aspirant who lately has been alarmed by the Dean phenomenon is Mr. Lieberman. He warned Democrats last week not to go astray by latching onto a quixotic candidacy that will give them "a ticket to nowhere."
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Mr. Lieberman's description of the Bush and Dean beliefs is hyperbolic, but who says candidates always have to be ho-hum? It's good to see some fire and vinegar coming from this top-tier candidate.

Critics who accuse him of being a flip-flopper and Republican Lite no doubt have stung the senator, who has been sharpening his attacks on his rivals and, in particular, Mr. Bush.
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