Surges by Rivals Put Dean on the Defensive in Iowa

NYTIMES ^ | 01/13/04 | ADAM NAGOURNEY and JODI WILGOREN

[Pikamax]

January 13, 2004 THE FORMER VERMONT GOVERNOR Surges by Rivals Put Dean on the Defensive in Iowa By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JODI WILGOREN

ELLA, Iowa, Jan. 12 — In the closing days before the Iowa caucuses here, Howard Dean has slipped into turbulent territory, facing challenges in both Iowa and New Hampshire, the two states where he is looking to nail down the nomination with early victories.

Here in Iowa, where the race between Dr. Dean and Representative Richard A. Gephardt is remarkably close, Dr. Dean's supporters expressed distress at what many described as his faltering performance in a televised debate Sunday. The Des Moines Register, the state's largest newspaper, described Dr. Dean in a front-page article as "again on the defensive."

It was the latest in a series of difficulties Dr. Dean has encountered at the very moment his competitors — in particular, Senators John Edwards and John Kerry — have made an aggressive late-campaign push for support among undecided voters.

In New Hampshire, which holds its primary a week after the caucuses, Gen. Wesley K. Clark has taken advantage of having the state almost to himself, as Dr. Dean tends to the tough battle in Iowa, drawing crowds that are beginning to rival the ones that typically show up to see Dr. Dean. Although Democratic strategists say they see little chance that Dr. Dean will lose New Hampshire, General Clark's rise is threatening Dr. Dean's once-dominant position in the state and could dash his hopes of essentially ending the contest with an overwhelming victory there

[Snuffington]

Sharpton for the Dem. nomination!!! The dream has not died!

[ambrose]

uh oh says Howie Dean... the media wants a horse race, and they're going to get one, even if they have to manufacture it.

[Paleo Conservative]

Sharpton for the Dem. nomination!!! The dream has not died!

Can you say a net pickup of ten US Senate seats?

[expatpat]

The NY Slimes continues to march to the Clinton's orders!

[RoseofTexas]

OH PLEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ let it be DINGY DEAN!!!!

[zarf]

Al's not qualified to clean up cow dung off a hot sidewalk.

Let's keep our fingers crossed anyway.

[ZOOKER]

...the media wants a horse race, and they're going to get one, even if they have to manufacture it.

The media? They're not the only ones who want the nomination deadlocked...

[skinkinthegrass]

..the Shrillary Clinton Bandwagon never stops or sleeps.

[petertare]

As I dun been sayn Sharpy stil putn a can o whit boy whupin on ol dizzy dean and he gonna jack da wheels of dat park avenue pugilist.

fix america vots sharpy.

I sense black America is waking up to the duocons of Sharpton and Dean. The general contest is not likely to see a traditional voting bloc election pattern, for the dam is cracking under all that backed up hypocrisy of the multi-racially clean left..

Woohooooo!