DATED DEAN, MARRIED KERRY, PLEASE SHOOT US:

The Power of a Peace Candidate (Jackson Diehl, May 2, 2004, NY Times)

When Ralph Nader announced his independent candidacy for president in February, he claimed his chief target would be "the giant corporation in the White House . . . George W. Bush." Two months later, a more plausible agenda is beginning to emerge. The adversary is not Bush but John F. Kerry; the main subject is not corporate greed but Iraq. And, contrary to the conventional wisdom of winter, Nader may be poised for a hot summer.

Here's the grim fact that Democrats are only now starting to come to grips with, for a whole host of reasons--not least his not being a congressman, his passion, and his opposition to the war--Howard Dean was their best candidate. Were Dean the nominee Mr. Nader would be headed for less than 1%. With any pro-war candidate they force him up to about 4%. The Difference between Howard Dean getting to 44% and John Kerry getting closer to 40% could be catastrophic to candidates downticket.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 2, 2004 3:45 PM