Dean's Wife Joins Him on Iowa Campaign

story.news.yahoo.com/ ^ | Sun Jan 18, 5:17 PM ET | Reuters

[KQQL]

DAVENPORT, Iowa (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean (news - web sites), facing a tight battle in Monday's Iowa caucuses, got some last-minute help from a surprise source on Sunday -- his wife.

Judith Steinberg, Dean's wife and a doctor in Vermont who has not appeared with him on the campaign trail, joined Dean at the airport in Davenport.

The couple spent several minutes alone on Dean's chartered jet before emerging to face a phalanx of cameras. Both wore sweaters -- Steinberg's a bright blue -- and no overcoats despite the below-freezing temperatures.

They smiled and hurried across the tarmac to a waiting bus without answering reporters' questions.

Steinberg was to appear with Dean, who is also a doctor, at an afternoon rally in Davenport, Iowa, and then continue with him to an evening event in Cedar Rapids. But an aide said she would fly back to Vermont on Sunday night because she had "patients to see" on Monday.

Dean and his wife had a joint practice in Vermont before he entered politics, and she continued the practice as Dean became governor of Vermont and then began his presidential run in May 2002.

Dean has said she is too busy to leave her patients and their teen-age son in high school and join him on the trail, and he did not want to force her into the typical role of a political wife. She appeared by his side last summer when he formally launched his presidential bid in Vermont, but has not attended any other public events.

Aides said it was unclear if Dean had asked her to come to Iowa or if she had volunteered. Dean is in a tight four-way battle ahead of the state's caucuses on Monday, the first test in the U.S. presidential race.

[KQQL]

Looks like his campaign needed help..with the female voters

[Consort]

Bob Beckel, the Dem operative, said she looks like Marilyn Quayle.

[KQQL]

NO way,

she needs a make over.

[Hank Rearden]

The couple spent several minutes alone on Dean's chartered jet before emerging to face a phalanx of cameras.

"Before we go out there, let's make sure we're clear on this - I get to be Secretary of State - right, Howie? Yes or no, Howie. I didn't get all beautiful and drag my butt to Iowa for nothing - right, Howie?"

[ETERNAL WARMING]

So, there is no truth to the rumor she is buried in the basement. :0)

[KQQL]

Howie. I didn't get all beautiful and drag my butt to Iowa for nothing - right,

[KQQL]

She was waiting for her make up to show up......

[KQQL]

[ETERNAL WARMING]

She was waiting for her make up to show up......

LOL Looks like her luggage was lost at the airport and still hasn't arrived.

[Hank Rearden]

All that union-thug crap behind her really sets off those teeth, doesn't it? I wonder if she can eat apples through a picket fence like Chelsea?

[KQQL]

I think Ms Howie doesn't use shampoo either.

[KQQL]

I wonder if she can eat apples through a picket fence like Chelsea?

[KQQL]

[Prodigal Son]

I can't understand why the media dragged his wife into this and even less why she and Dean allowed themselves to be drawn in like this.

I'd have just told the media to stuff it- I'm the one running for office, not her. She's busy and doesn't want to subject herself to the extreme ugliness of American political campaigning. Who would blame her? You've got to have some sort of perverse self loathing thing going on to set yourself up as a target like that.

[Prodigal Son]

I think Ms Howie doesn't use shampoo either.

Actually, this sort of makes the point of my previous post. No way in the world would I set my wife up for that sort of ugliness. American politics is like a side show at the carnival.

[hellinahandcart]

She comes off as very likeable and real. Mark my words, we're going to wish he'd kept her in the basement.

[KQQL]

......she looks like she forget the 60's are over

[KQQL]

He's polls are going south............

[zygoat]

Isn't she the singer for the Foo Fighters?