The tightening race in Iowa is good for Dean

[WI_DEM]

Don't laugh. I honestly mean it. It throws off the expectations game. Up to now it is assumed that Dean will win Iowa based on the narrow lead he had for quite some time. Now the polls are showing a three and maybe four way race with today's Zogby tracking giving Kerry a 1-point lead and Dean and Gephardt tied.

Why is this good for Dean? I still think in the end Dean is going to win Iowa, no matter how narrowly. He has 3500 volunteers canvassing the state and is acknowledged to have a first class organization--and in a caucus state that counts. Also, per McCain's 2000 campaign manager the polls don't really give the true story of Dean's strength--for instance he says you should add 4 or 5 points on any poll for Dean.

It is good that it is tightening and throws the expectations game for a loop because if Dean wins on Monday night it will have more impact than if it was considered a sure thing. The media would be writing about Dean's comeback after a low point.

And then it is off to NH and to do battle there.

[WealthAndDemocracy]

1. bookmarked - for 5 days

[WI_DEM]

2. great

I feel like one of those tv pundits.

[ClintonTyree]

3. Could be.................

I'll just be glad when the whole thing's over. Then maybe DU will return toward some semblance of civility once again. Is still think Dean is the one to take the party in a much needed new direction, but however it shakes out, I'll be beating the streets for our candidate, whoever it is.

[LuminousX]

4. I agree, to a point

The one thing this will do is get those people who support Dean who figured he has enough support that there is no reason to go to get up and out of their houses and go.

They will realize that if the race is this close, their vote is more important.