Ouch

Well, that didn’t turn out the way I hoped it would.

In the end, I agree with those who suggest that Dean and Gephardt took each other out of the race with their negative ads and oppositional campaigning.  The ostensible front-runners crashed into each other, wiping out both of them.  The guys running just to finish the race suddenly found themselves zooming past the wreckage into the lead.  The two negative campaigns had simply burned too many bridges, so that when it came time for the horsetrading segment of the caucuses the bad taste of the ugly last few weeks made it more difficult for supporters of the non-viable candidates to fall in with the Dean group.  I’ve seen a number of reports from the front in which it was evident that Dean picked up almost nothing beyond those who were with him as they walked into the caucus. 

That Edwards and, particularly, Kerry “found their voices” at just the right time was also a great boon to them.  After months of fumbling, mealy-mouthed, tortured syntax, John Kerry finally discovered a clear, firm manner on the stump.  Edwards has always presented his message with clarity and finesse, but for the longest time no one was listening; that he was able to thrust himself into the limelight so forcefully when the opportunity presented itself is a tribute to the Senator and/or his campaign staff.

After all this, whither Dean?

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