AP: "Democratic front-runner John Kerry has a commanding lead over rival John Edwards among New Yorkers likely to vote in the March 2 primary, according to a statewide poll released today. The poll by Marist College's Institute for Public Opinion found the four-term Massachusetts senator leading Edwards, 66 percent to 14 percent, among likely voters. Al Sharpton was at 7 percent and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio was at 3 percent. A statewide poll released last week by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute had Kerry leading the Democratic pack with 48 percent of likely Democratic primary voters supporting him. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who withdrew from the race on Wednesday, was at 10 percent in the Quinnipiac poll while Edwards was at 7 percent."

AP: "John Kerry vanquished his Dixie-bred rivals in Virginia and Tennessee on Tuesday, all but unstoppable in his march toward the Democratic nomination with a Southern sweep that extended his dominance to every region of the country. 'Americans are voting for change -- East and West, North and now in the South,' Kerry declared to the roar of supporters in Fairfax, Va., chanting, 'Kerry! Kerry!'"

"Most Tennesseans voting in the Democratic presidential primary Tuesday were angry with the Bush administration, opposed to the war in Iraq and worried about the economy," reports the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "More than 8 in 10 voters said they were dissatisfied with Bush and more than 2/3 said they disapproved of the decision to go to war with Iraq. 'I don't like his economic policies. I don't like his arrogance with our allies and I don't like right-wing fundamentalism creeping into the White House the way it has,' said Dorothy Pugh, 50, artist director of Ballet Memphis. 'I am willing to get behind any candidate who can go up against George W. Not only will I support him, I will work for his campaign,' said Linda Rust, 38, a Knox County government worker." Go Tennessee!!

Democrats are holding primaries and caucuses to elect their presidential candidate not only within the United States, but around the world, wherever there are groups of expatriate Americans. The leaders of the Japan chapter of Democrats Abroad expected 80 people to attend the caucus in Tokyo; twice that many showed up. (The final vote put Gov. Dean in first place, Sen. Kerry second, and "uncommitted" third.) In Paris, 80 people were expected, and 300 showed up. Democrats everywhere are fired up to oust Bush from the presidency he never earned.

The Detroit Free Press reports: "Today's caucuses are expected to draw more than 100,000 voters to 590 voting sites between 10 a.m and 4 p.m. Another 123,000 voters applied earlier to cast ballots by mail or by Internet. By Friday, only about 50,000 of those had voted." A high percentage of these votes were reportedly cast by military folk. Democratic organizers are afraid that Kerry's huge lead may keep some voters away from the polls, because they assume the race results are inevitable. "[Newspaper] Polls don't vote, so we have to make sure that every single voter goes out there and does their civic duty," said Melvin Butch Hollowell, cochairman of the Michigan Democratic Party. But with over 100,000 voting, the turnout is still phenomenal. "I think in the end what unites us as Democrats is the desire to get rid of George Bush," said Dem Cochairman Mark Brewer.

"In union halls, school cafeterias and living rooms, Democrats crowded into caucus sites, overwhelming organizers who were unprepared for the surge of civic involvement. In Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, hundreds of people packed caucuses at the Labor Temple. So many showed up, organizers had to scramble to open additional rooms while people waited outside in a line that snaked to the end of the block and around the corner. Those precincts started their caucuses late in order to allow everyone who was in line to participate. 'I think this is about 20 times what everybody expected," caucus coordinator Pat McCoy said.'" The usual number expected across the state for caucuses is 20,000, but observers now say at least 100,000 will have voted by the time polls close.

Here's the slanted headline at Detroit News.com: "Car Issues May Slow Kerry In Michigan." But reading the article, you discover that the "slowed" Kerry has (re most recent poll) captured 52-56% of primary voters, his closest contender Dean at 9%! "John Kerry appears headed for victory in Saturday's Michigan Democratic Caucus -- despite his stand on a proposal that could cost the state's battered auto industry tens of thousands more jobs. Thus, even if he wins as handily as polls suggest and captures the presidential nomination, his call for dramatically higher automotive fuel economy standards, and support of NAFTA, will require some explaining before the November election to large constituencies here who like neither." Talk about damning with faint praise!

"Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry picked up the support of former rival Dick Gephardt and his labor-union base today while his closest opponents for the party's nomination exchanged negative words in the South," reports the Houston Chronicle. "In Tennessee, Wesley Clark accused John Edwards of not supporting veterans programs in the Senate, a charge the Edwards campaign called 'absurd' and part of a smear that is counter to the retired general's pledge to run a positive campaign. On Thursday, Clark had said Edwards was hypocritical for criticizing proposals he voted for in the Senate -- education reform, the Patriot Act and the Iraq war. Above the fray in the South, Kerry stood at Gephardt's side in Michigan as the Missouri congressman told supporters, 'I'm here today adding my voice to all of yours to say that we want and need this man to be the next president of the United States.'"

"Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry lined up support from former rival Dick Gephardt on Thursday in an accelerating rush toward the Democratic presidential nomination. Howard Dean withdrew to Wisconsin for a defiant last stand. 'I never run away from anything, especially George Bush,' Kerry shot back at a heckler in Portland, Maine, one of three states he hopes to add to his campaign trophy case over the next few days. Everywhere he went, Kerry's path was cleared by establishment Democrats bearing fresh endorsements. Gov. John Baldacci and former Sen. George Mitchell from Maine climbed aboard the Kerry bandwagon during the day, as did Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow from Michigan. Officials said Gephardt would announce his support on Friday in Warren, Mich., and that an alliance of unions that backed the Missouri lawmaker's own failed bid for the White House planned to soon follow."

"The number of 18- to 29-year-olds who turned out at the [Iowa] caucuses quadrupled compared with 2000. In New Hampshire, the youth turnout was up 50 percent from four years ago. 'We think that young people are going to be the swing voters of the 2004 election, be it Dean or Kerry or George Bush [HA!],' says Scott Beale of the nonprofit Youth Venture... 'It's going to be our generation that decides this election.' Political scientists... attribute it to a variety of factors, from the multicandidate field, which prompts campaigns to reach down to the very bottom of voter lists looking for supporters, to Howard Dean's and Dennis Kucinich's campaigns, which specifically target the under-30 crowd. And military conflicts, like Vietnam, have traditionally politicized the young on both sides of the issue... In this sharply divided country, they could be a pivotal block. Forty million people are between the ages of 18 and 29. If their turnout increases 5%, that's 2m more votes up for grabs."

AP: "John Kerry rolled up big victories in delegate-rich Missouri, Arizona and two other states to solidify his position as Democratic presidential front-runner. John Edwards countered by taking his native South Carolina in a dramatic seven-state contest Tuesday. Edwards and Wesley Clark were a few hundred votes apart in Oklahoma, with Kerry close behind in the tightest race of the night. It was a critical test for Edwards, who hoped to prove his presidential mettle outside the South, and Clark, who needed a win to stay in the hunt. Howard Dean earned no wins and perhaps no delegates, his candidacy in peril. Joe Lieberman was shut out, too, and dropped out of the race."

"Democratic candidates today heard gut-wrenching stories of a son killed in Iraq and health care benefits denied to a dying relative, promising South Carolina voters that they will reverse Bush's policies if sent to the White House. 'These are cutbacks coming because George W. Bush cut taxes for wealthy people, took revenue sources from states, and states are cutting back on Medicaid,' retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark of Arkansas told a woman sobbing over her family's dire health care straits. The candidates heard heart-wrenching personal stories. Edwards consoled a woman, Elaine Johnson, whose son died in Iraq. Taking her hand, the first-term senator said, 'God bless you, ma'am, for what you're going through.'"

Robert Reich writes, "The real fight is between those who want only to win back the White House [Joe Lieberman] and those who also want to build a new political movement - one that rivals the conservative movement that has given Republicans their dominant position in American politics... Howard Dean could be called the quintessential 'movement' Democrat. His campaign is both grass-roots and reformist, and is based on the proposition that ordinary people must be empowered to 'take back America.' Similar threads can also be seen in the campaigns of John Edwards and John Kerry [and Dennis Kucinich!]... First, it is crucial to build a political movement that will endure after particular electoral contests. Second, in order for a presidency to be effective, it needs a movement that mobilizes Americans behind it. Finally, any political movement derives its durability from the clarity of its convictions. And there's no better way to clarify convictions than to hone them in political combat."

AP: "John Kerry said his New Hampshire victory shows he has the determination to go the distance and defeat Bush, and he immediately charted an aggressive schedule to advance that goal. Accepting his victory before a cheering crowd of backers, Kerry thanked voters 'for lifting up this campaign and the cause of an America that belongs not to the privileged, not to the few, but to all the people.' In his speech, Kerry singled out a band of veterans that has traveled with him and stumped tirelessly on his behalf as he made his record as a war hero in Vietnam central to his appeal. 'In the hardest moments of the past month I depended on the same band of brothers I depended on some 30 years ago,' said Kerry. 'We're a little older, a little grayer, but we still know how to fight for our country.'"

MSNBC: "Howard Dean is riding a rollercoaster in the New Hampshire polls. As quickly as he sank in the surveys following his dismal third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, Dean is rising again -- so dramatically, in fact, that he is in a statistical dead heat with Sen. John Kerry in the latest MSNBC/Zogby Reuters Poll released Monday. The three-day rolling average has Kerry with 28 percent to Dean's 25 percent in New Hampshire's Democratic primary on Tuesday, cutting four points from Kerry's Sunday lead. Factoring in the poll's four-point margin of error places the Massachusetts senator and the former Vermont governor in a statistical tie. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark is in third place with 11 percent, followed by North Carolina Sen. John Edwards with 10 percent. Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman polled at 9 percent." If you read this after today, you likely already know the final outcome...

Four different polls taken in the last 24 hours in New England show that Kerry has surged ahead of the Democratic pack, with a lead ranging from 5 to 14 percentage points over the next-strongest contender, Howard Dean. Dean held the number two spot in all polls. John Edwards has lost momentum, Clark has gained.

AP: "John Kerry rode an 11th-hour surge to victory in Iowa's kickoff presidential caucuses, upsetting Democratic front-runner Howard Dean and stunning caucus favorite Dick Gephardt. Kerry's comeback blew the nomination fight wide open, setting the stage for a free-for-all in New Hampshire's follow-up primary. 'I want to thank Iowa for making me the Comeback Kerry,' Kerry said... Two weeks ago, Dean and Gephardt were the co-favorites, but Monday night the former Vermont governor was stuck in third. He pledged to plow ahead, saying, 'on to New Hampshire.' Gephardt, winner of the 1988 caucuses, was falling far short of the victory he needed to keep his political career alive. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina was in second. 'It feels terrific,' Edwards said as he awaited the final results at a downtown hotel. 'What's happened here the last two weeks with my campaign has been phenomenal.'" In the aftermath of the caucuses, Dick Gephardt has decided to drop out of the presidential race.

Paul Krugman writes, "Earlier this week, Wesley Clark had some strong words about the state of the nation. 'I think we're at risk with our democracy,' he said. 'I think we're dealing with the most closed, imperialistic, nastiest administration in living memory. They even put Richard Nixon to shame.' In other words, the general gets it: he understands that America is facing what Kevin Phillips, in his remarkable new book, 'American Dynasty,' calls a 'Machiavellian moment.' Among other things, this tells us that General Clark and Howard Dean, whatever they may say in the heat of the nomination fight, are on the same side of the great Democratic divide... A Democratic candidate will have a chance of winning only if he has an energized base, willing to contribute money in many small donations, willing to contribute their own time, willing to stand up for the candidate in the face of smear tactics and unfair coverage."

With a 4% margin of error, Zogby's latest tracking poll is a 4-way tie: Kerry (22%), Dean (21%), Gephardt (21%), Edwards (17%). A record turnout is expected - perhaps TWICE the number who participated in previous caucuses. This is one HOT race, folks!

Cheryl Seal writes: "Since 1996, the American government has lost its center and been dragged so far to the right that it is about to topple over. In so doing, it has polarized the American people to a point where the bitter feelings and anger will take a long, long time to heal. The only antidote is to bring the nation back into balance - a balance that will never happen as long as G. W. Bush is in office and the Democratic Party has abdicated their end of the seesaw. Democrats mistakenly believe that the public has turned on them in recent years because they are not enough like Republicans. The truth is, the public has turned on them because they have become TOO much like Republicans. It is in human nature to reject hypocrisy, phoniness and mixed messages...and, thus, alas, the Democrats in 2002 were rejected in favor of sincere and consistent fascists."

"Howard Dean beat Al Sharpton in yesterday's nonbinding D.C. primary, an election that for many participants was more about protesting the city's lack of congressional representation than electing the next president. Dean had a solid lead (43%-34%) over Sharpton... Carol Moseley Braun (12%) and Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (8%) were running a distant third and fourth... About 15% of eligible voters cast ballots... Dean... reiterated his support for giving the city voting rights in Congress and called it wrong that five of his rivals opted out of the contest. He also said he won the vote among an electorate with a majority of African American voters... 'We're going to build a rainbow coalition to take over this country for the people who own it,' Dean told his supporters... At the Sharpton party at a restaurant on U Street NW, the candidate told his supporters that his second-place finish gave him momentum heading into other contests."

Here is a quiz sponsored by PBS's New Hour and WBUR.org: "Do you really know where the candidates stand? Learn about the candidates through their platforms, not their personalities. Read the answers from the nine Democrats running for president on 14 major issues. Choose the one you agree with most. Create your own report card that reveals the candidates you chose for each issue."

"In a feisty, first debate of the election year, Howard Dean drew fire from fellow Democrats on Sunday over trade, terror, taxes and more, then calmly dismissed his rivals as 'co-opted by the agenda of George Bush.' Dean used his question to ask the other Democrats on the debate stage whether they would pledge to support the eventual nominee, then raised his hand to show he would. All others followed suit - Gephardt, Edwards, Lieberman, Kerry, Kucinich and Braun... 'What has happened to so many Democrats in Congress is that they've been co-opted by the agenda of George Bush,' he said. 'And what we need is a Democrat who's going to stand up to George Bush.'" While Dean held up under fire, Kucinich won the debate by connecting Bush's new cuts in domestic programs with the $166 billion (so far) cost of Iraq, and by stressing the need to "get the UN and get the US out." Kucinich also had the best line, when asked if he was electable: 'Of course I'm electable if everyone votes for me!'"

After the 2000 and 2002 exit polling fiascos, the corporate media abolished Voter News Services (VNS), and gave the job to Warren Mitofsky. As the Iowa caucus nears, Mitofsky is trying to pressure the Iowa Democratic Party to 'cooperate' with his poll. But why should the Dems? "Iowa Democratic Party's executive director, Jean Hessburg, said she is concerned that results reported before caucus-goers make their final decisions fail to reflect the dynamic caucus process. That's because participants may decide to abandon their first choice because of party rules for delegate selection. 'If the networks are calling the race for whoever and our results show something different, it creates a firestorm of confusion and may call into question the real and accurate results of the caucuses,' Hessburg said." If we're a Democracy, why can't the media simply WAIT until all the votes are counted???

Paul Krugman writes, "Some of Mr. Dean's rivals have launched vitriolic attacks that might as well have been scripted by Karl Rove. And I don't buy the excuse that it's all about ensuring that the party chooses an electable candidate. It's true that if Mr. Dean gets the nomination, the Republicans will attack him as a wild-eyed liberal who is weak on national security. But they would do the same to any Democrat - even Joseph Lieberman. Facts, or the lack thereof, will prove no obstacle: remember the successful attacks on the patriotism of Max Cleland, who lost three limbs in Vietnam, or the Saddam-Daschle ads. Mr. Dean's character will also come under attack. But this, too, will happen to any Democrat. If we've learned anything in this past decade, it's that the right-wing scandal machine will find a way to smear anyone, and that a lot of the media will play along.'"

"In their latest attacks on Dean, Kerry and Gephardt are continuing to misread the Democratic base - since polls show that nearly 2/3 of likely primary voters continue to believe the war was a bad idea. Moreover, these attacks smell like Bush-coddling to much of the Democratic primary electorate. And it is Dean's feisty, sock-it-to-Bush style which - even more than the specifics of his positions on issues - is driving his candidacy's momentum and giving his campaign many of the aspects of a genuine movement. Dean and his campaign understand this, and have developed near-perfect pitch in positioning their candidate as the plain-speaking anti-politician, the outsider. Dean's reply to the attacks on his Saddam statement - in which the doctor denounced the 'Washington Politics as Usual Club' and the 'Washington Democrats' who 'fell meekly into line' with Bush - only reinforce that image. The more Dean's rivals have focused their attacks on him, the higher Dean has risen in the polls."

Kos writes, "Today I got an email from a prominent writer at a prominent opinion mag. He has started an anti-Dean blog, and wanted to start a 'debate'. I declined, and in the process, formulated a new policy. It is clear that our nominee will be either Dean or Clark. No one else has a shot. Therefore, I will not criticize or point to criticism of either of those two candidates. Each one of those guys has his plusses and his cons, and each one of them can beat Bush. That's all that matters. I sincerely suggest you footsoldiers in the Dean vs. Clark flamewars start reconsidering your tactics. Stick to being positive about your guys. Don't gleefully point to every anti-Dean or anti-Clark smear coming from a wingnut or mediawhore. You are doing their bidding. We are all on the same team, and the time to 'merge the tribes' is just a month or two away. We need to start coming together for the sake of the party and our country."

AP: "Several labor unions that endorsed Dick Gephardt donated $50,000 apiece to a group broadcasting commercials that question Democratic presidential rival Howard Dean's credentials, including one spot that features Osama bin Laden and two others that align the former Vermont governor with... Bush. One of the unions, the International Association of Machinists, called Tuesday for the group, Americans for Jobs, Healthcare and Progressive Values, to pull the ad and release the names of its financial backers. Other labor unions that gave money to the group include the Laborers International Union of North America and the Ironworkers Union, both of which have endorsed Gephardt for president. 'The ads are despicable and we ought to ask for the refund,' said Rick Sloan, a spokesman for the International Association of Machinists. 'They've done more to damage Dick Gephardt than anything any of his opponents could have done or dreamed of doing.'"

PentaPost writes, "Americans for Jobs, Healthcare and Progressive Values 'is getting more and more mysterious: Early last week, its president was Timothy Raftis, a former aide to Sen. Tom Harkin; now, a new president has suddenly appeared on the group's Web site: former Rep. Edward Feighan (D-Ohio). The group's treasurer is fundraiser David Jones, who has worked for one of Mr. Dean's chief rivals, Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri -- but suddenly, it has a new spokesman, John Kerry's former press secretary, Robert Gibbs, which might suggest, to the conspiracy-minded, an effort to deflect attention from a possible Gephardt connection... From those who pose as champions of 'progressive values,' it's despicable. 'I believe strongly in the view of Thomas Jefferson that an informed electorate helps insure the strength of democracy,' Mr. Raftis said on the group's Web site. Informed, that is, of what he chooses to tell them. What hypocrisy." Sign our pledge: http://democrats.com/unity

"As Democrats, we share one overriding goal for 2004: replacing George W. Bush with a legitimately-elected Democratic President who will undo the massive damage created at home and abroad by Bush. We welcome the vigorous competition of ideas in our Democratic primaries. But we insist that this competition be conducted with civility, respect, and even love for fellow Democrats. We reject all divisive efforts, whether by individual candidates or their supporters. And when the primaries end, all Democrats must unite behind our Presidential nominee. As a loyal Democrat, I pledge my full support for the Democratic nominee for President - whoever wins the primaries. In addition, I pledge to do everything in my power to defeat George W. Bush and elect a Democratic President." Take the pledge!

Rob Kall writes, "The same internet statistics that predicted within less than 1% point the percentage [by which] Howard Dean won the the Moveon.org internet primary show Dennis Kucinich ahead of all the candidates except Howard Dean, who holds a strong lead on Kucinich as well. And in the California Democratic Council (CDC) vote, Howard Dean took a commanding first place with 56.11% of the vote with Dennis Kucinich placing second with 17.19% and Wesley Clark with 14.48%. Kucinich is now, with a usual estimate of 2% support in most polls, where Clinton was in the months before the start of the 1991 Primaries. But the congressman's very strong showing in web activity is a very positive sign that suggests pollsters who poll just a few hundred people may be wrong about Kucinich. The Alexa.com stats used in this article that show Dean, then Kucinich in the lead, ahead of the pack, are based on data from hundreds of thousands of internet users."

"Al Gore's endorsement is radically changing the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, according to our exclusive 'Survey St. Louis' poll. Survey USA has been polling voters in Iowa for the last few weeks. What they've found is a major shift in the polling numbers since Gore endorsed frontrunner Howard Dean. When asked in November who they'd vote for, 31 percent of Iowa Democrats said they'd vote for Vermont Governor Howard Dean. 26 percent said they would choose Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt. 24 percent picked Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. 14 percent chose North Carolina Senator John Edwards. But, when asked the same question, after Al Gore's endorsement, the numbers were much different. Dean got 42 percent of the vote - that's an 11 percent jump. Gephardt had 23 percent -- a 3-point drop."

"From National Journal's Hotline: Dean 'has taken a slight lead' in SC over John Edwards in a new Zogby poll that found 'no clear favorite' - Dean had 11%; Lieberman and Clark 9%; Edwards, Al Sharpton, Dick Gephardt 7%; John Kerry 4%; Carol Moseley Braun 3%; and Dennis Kucinich .3%. Dean now 'leads' in FL, with 16%, compared to 15% for Wesley Clark and Joe Lieberman. The polling company poll for Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times also found that Pres. Bush would beat the five leading Dems in head-to-head matchups by 8-18% but shows Bush under 50%."

"Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt are battling for the lead in the Democratic presidential race in Iowa as they have for the last few months, according to a poll released Tuesday night. Dean was at 26%, and Gephardt was at 22% in the Zogby poll, a difference within the margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.5%. Dean and Gephardt were very close in an October Zogby poll in Iowa as well. In the latest poll, almost three in 10 voters, 28%, were undecided - close to the level of undecided voters in October. The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for Jan. 19. All other Democratic presidential candidates were in single digits. John Kerry was at 9%; John Edwards was at 5%; and Wesley Clark was at 4%. Dennis Kucinich and Joe Lieberman were at 1%. Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton were at 1% or less."

Despite a powerful "stop-Dean" movement from the press and Democratic insiders, "Howard Dean, who enjoyed a 40%-17% lead in October polling of New Hampshire Democratic primary likely voters over John Kerry, has stretched that lead in [Zogby's] December polling to 42%-12%. Wesley Clark is third at 9%, followed by Joseph Lieberman with 7%... John Edwards earned 4%, followed by Richard Gephardt at 3% and Dennis Kucinich with 2%. Carol Mosley Braun and Al Sharpton did not receive any votes in the poll... While the Granite State primary is just less than 8 weeks away, one in five (19%) likely primary voters are still unsure of their favorite candidate. Kerry enjoyed front-runner status in New Hampshire in Zogby's February and June polling, but Dean gained the lead in August, gave a few points back in September, and has been growing an exponential lead since then." Democratic voters appear to be uniting around Howard Dean.

"WTOP Radio and ABC-7 WJLA TV conducted a poll of likely Democratic voters in the D.C. Primary. Among the findings: In a hypothetical 9-way race, Dr. Howard Dean leads his nearest competitor by more than two-to-one. He polls 27% of the primary electorate, compared to 11% for his closest rival, Gen. Wesley Clark... Among those who say they are 'absolutely certain' to vote on January 13, Dean's lead over Clark grows to 30% to 10%. Sharpton is in third place at 6%, tied with Gephardt. In a trial heat among the four candidates who will actually appear on the ballot in D.C. on January 13, Dean pulls out to a commanding 45% to 11% lead over Sharpton. Moseley-Braun draws 8%, while Kucinich is far back at 4%."

WashPost: "Howard Dean is shaking up the Democratic presidential race by busting federal spending constraints, locking up two of the campaign's biggest endorsements and, for the first time, threatening to pull away from the pack. Dean yesterday became the first Democrat ever to opt out of the taxpayer-funded presidential system, providing his campaign what could be a decisive long-term financial edge. This week, two of the nation's most politically powerful labor unions -- AFSCME and SEIU -- plan to endorse Dean, a decision that has stunned people inside the labor movement and rattled the other candidates. These two unions have 3 million members combined and tens of millions of dollars to spend on the presidential election. Together these developments provide Dean an opening for a quick-kill strategy: winning Iowa and New Hampshire, developing substantial momentum, and unleashing superior money and manpower to prevent anyone from becoming a serious challenger."

Zogby reports, "Howard Dean has expanded his lead over the field of Democratic presidential hopefuls, moving away from a late September tie with Wesley Clark. Dean now receives 15% from 558 likely Democratic primary voters nationwide, and Clark has slipped slightly to 10%. Richard Gephardt and Joseph Lieberman are tied for third at 9%, slight improvements over September polling. John Kerry remains at 7%, followed by Al Sharpton (4%), and John Edwards (3%). Dennis Kucinich and Carol Mosley Braun are tied with 2% each. One in three (34%) Democratic primary voters remain undecided on a candidate, down slightly from September undecideds of 43%." Margin of error is +/- 4.2%.

"In an appeal to young voters across America, eight Democratic presidential candidates slapped each other on the back and trading casual jabs during CNN's America Rocks The Vote at Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Howard Dean - the frontrunner in most current polls - said he knew he was the in the lead when he had to pick out buckshot from his rear-end... Lara Setrakian '03 took a different tone with her 15 seconds. 'What's the first thought that would go through your head when you wake up in the White House?' she asked the group. With the flair that makes him popular in debates, if not the polls, Sharpton shot back, 'I would make sure Bush has all of his stuff out.... I'd change the locks so that all his crowd will stay out.' The evening also featured 30-second videos, produced by the candidates, which introduced each of them to a backdrops of rock and rap music." Dick Gephardt was MIA. Dennis Kucinich's best line: "To rock the vote, you must rock the boat!"

"The nine Democratic candidates debating Sunday night in Detroit displayed a solid unity when it came to attacking Bush for his policy in Iraq. 'I'd say all of us up here support our troops a great deal more than the resident of the United States does,' said Howard Dean, who has been the most outspoken in criticizing the resident. 'Right after 9/11, this administration determined to do bait and switch on the American public. Bush said he was going to get Usama bin Laden, dead or alive. Instead, he went after Saddam Hussein. He doesn't have either one of them today,' said retired Wesley Clark. 'What I voted for was to hold Saddam Hussein accountable but to do it right. This resident has done it wrong every step of the way,' said John Kerry, who defended his support for going to war in Iraq and his opposition to the resident's $87 billion supplemental to pay for continued military operations and reconstruction."

"From the Franklin Pierce College poll released today: 'Governor Dean is opening up a significant lead over Senator Kerry and the pack lagging behind them,' said Rich Killion, Fitzwater Center Director. 'The first candidate to creep into the 30% range in the Franklin Pierce poll, Dean is enjoying clear leads over Kerry among every critical voter category: Democrats, Independents, men and women and with voters of each of the states' two congressional districts.' The numbers: Dean 33% Kerry 19% Undecided 27%... They also asked about attitudes towards the candidates and found: 'Even though Howard Dean has been the frontrunner since our July survey, he continues to define himself on his terms and leaves this period -- for the first time -- with not only the highest net favorability rating (+63%),' said Killion, 'but also the smallest growth in unfavorable ratings of any candidate in this survey (increase of 3% unfavorable rating).'"

"Clark's advisers said they concluded last week that his late-starting candidacy had left him unable to assemble the intricate organization needed to win the Iowa race... Lieberman's advisers said his [pro-Bush] stances on issues that are big in Iowa now, including his strong support for the war in Iraq and support of treaties lowering trade barriers, were problematic in a contest that attracts many liberal and blue-collar voters... The decisions drew a sharp reaction from state party leaders and from other Democratic candidates. Several predicted [they] would come to regret their decisions, noting that no one who skipped the caucuses has ever won the Democratic nomination... Lieberman and Clark are looking to Feb. 3 to make their mark. The scattered geography of that day's voting will put a premium on television advertising... [IA frontrunner] Gephardt's advisers said he could not survive a loss in Iowa, because he is from a neighboring state and because he won the caucuses in 1988."