The 54-year-old Dean, an internist by training, is suddenly the one to beat. Polls show him tied for first in Iowa, site of the nation's first caucuses, and opening a big lead in New Hampshire, a vital early primary state."Very aggressive" seems to elude many Democrats. That's why Dean scares them.
His rise in New Hampshire has rocked the campaign of Sen. John Kerry of neighboring Massachusetts. A favorite of the Democratic elite, Kerry cast himself as the early front-runner and campaigned as if he had cemented the title.
"Kerry's campaign has been strange," said Greg Haas, a Democratic strategist in Ohio. "They haven't been very aggressive."
Well, too bad. Next November is going to be a streetfight because that's how Rove works. Dean knows it, and it's scaring more wingnuts than Democrats. So either join in or change parties. It ain't gonna be pretty.
