Despite all the media/opposition attacks Dean still leads

[CMT]

ABC: The Note raises some interesting points on where the campaign is at this stage in its news summary.

They acknowledge that Iowa is tight and NH has gotten tighter.

After blasting Dean such as calling his latest add "holier-than thou" they offer some points which make some sense:

On the other hand-other hand-Dean himself has been the subject of many, many attacks in the last several montsh,--many demagogic and unrefereed by the press--and the fact that his standing hasn't sunk more is testament to what we have all been talking about for more than a year--the playing-by-different-rules nature of the Dean campaign. And that could allow him to survive all of this.

Despite the occassional hit job (Clark and Iraq, for instance), no other candidate besides Dean has gotten meaningful press or unfurled oppo research scrutiny in months and months. If Burlington and/or the media begin to hold these other candidates accountable, who knows what will happen?

I think the Note gets this right. Dean has been getting lots of press but most of it negative while his opponents have been given a relative pass--up to now--That Dean is still ahead in NH (despite all the attacks and not really concentrating on the state while Clark has been all over it) speaks volumns to his support--the same with Iowa.

http://aabcnews.go.com/sections/politics/TheNote/TheNote.html

[maddezmom]

1. check the link...think you've got an extra "a" ;)

[LuminousX]

2. At the end of the day, it only matters who won

the margin of victory is for historians to play with and speculate about.

Dean leads, that is all that matters. What would be 'news' is if he kept a 20 point lead or if positions in the poll change (if he slips into second.)

[David Dunham]

3. Dean Is Fading Fast

Dean's lead in Iowa is down to three points today according to the Zogby tracking poll. Kerry has the Big Mo. Dean has negative Mo.

[CMT]

4. Most polls have not had Dean leading much in Iowa

it is either been a small Gep lead or small Dean lead. Right now it is a small Dean lead. Iowa will be close but he is not fading there.

[mouse7]

5. Who do you support?

With no statement of who you support, at makes it look like you are only here to be against Dean.

You need to be FOR something.