Kerry Boosts Momentum With Huge N.H. Win

On the one hand, I, as a Dean fan, wish it were him instead of Kerry. And consider the amount he lost by, and the fact that it is in New Hampshire which is right next door to us in Vermont. Short of a miracle, I think this is the end of it for him. If he couldn't make it in Iowa where he was the front-runner, and he couldn't make it in New Hampshire which is a slightly more right-leaning version of Vermont, I don't think he's going to make it. I wish it weren't so, but that's how I see it. Besides the fact that I agreed with him pretty much across the board on the issues, he seemed like the most principled one of all the serious candidates. I mean sure, maybe he went too far at times or it was partially an act just like every other politician, but still.

But on the other hand, I think a Democratic front-runner emerging quickly is a good thing. All that negative campaigning and infighting a month ago wasn't helping anyone. All the Democratic candidates agreed that they would have preferred any of each other over Bush, so why were they going for so many low blows? That whole "Dean's sealed records as Governor" thing was pointlessly negative, as well as simply stupid. Just for one example. And Kerry would have to be my second choice, after Dean. If Bush presses the foreign policy issue - and what else can he press, considering that the economy still isn't doing great and the nation is perfectly split on gay marriage? - Kerry is one of the candidates with military experience. While Bush was going AWOL from the Texas National Guard (no personal offense meant to any Bush supporters, but that's just pathetic), Kerry was in Vietnam. Since he can't reasonably use the war, we'll soon see if Bush has anything going for him at all, other than dirty tricks.