I missed another debate among the Democratic challengers last night. Unlike the last one, though, this time Dean apparently strongly held his place as the definite front runner. Two quotes from some of the various recaps caught my eye this morning:
Slate’s William Saletan had this to say:
Howard Dean’s performance was near-perfect. Strategically, Dean is way ahead of the pack. He has fulfilled the affirmative part of the campaign: giving people enough reasons to vote for him. Now he has the luxury of focusing on the negative part: dispelling the reasons to vote against him. Accordingly, his preparation for the last two debates seems to have focused on acting presidential and conveying competence in military and foreign policy. Tonight he accomplished both. He was at ease and in command.
And according to Adam Nagourney and Jodi Wilgoren of the New York Times, Kerry is feeling the pressure from Dean:
The dominance that Dr. Dean has enjoyed, and the corresponding exasperation that has caused his rivals, was clear even before the candidates sat down in Baltimore tonight. Senator Kerry was talking to reporters before the debate here, where he was repeatedly questioned about Dr. Dean’s standing in the race and things that he had said.
After Mr. Kerry finished his news conference and began walking away with an aide, David Wade, a live microphone picked him up muttering with evident annoyance: “Dean, Dean, Dean, Dean.”
Sorry, Kerry, but from everything I’ve read, and what little I’ve seen, you just don’t impress me. I’d vote for Kerry if he got the nomination, if only to vote against Bush, but I’m really hoping that it is Dean that gets the nomination.
In fact, I’m actually looking forward to subscribing to whatever cable package I need to next year, just so I can watch a Bush/Dean presidential race debate. The thought of that lying, hedging, mealymouthed stumblebum of a president trying to go up against the confidence, poise, and fire that Dean so often shows (and is apparently getting much better at as things progress) is incredibly amusing. I’m definitely looking forward to actually being able to see Bush fall flat on his face come 2004.
(via Mathew Gross, Kos, and Len)
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