Quick follow-up -- The pictures chosen for these front pages demonstrate the Dean-centric focus of the media. Edwards and Kerry can't be real thrilled about how even when they beat him, HBD steals their thunder.

In the advertising world, they believe that there's no such thing as bad publicity (i.e., anytime you're getting air time is good). But that's when you're buying widgets, not voting for President. Some would say it's the same. One thing for sure--it's cheap, and it kept Bush from getting any buzz off his (exceedingly dull) state of the union address.

Right on! Homerun! A wonderful and learning Dean evening! Howard, keep up the honest expression of your person and your views. The learning curve may be steep, but you have shown the intelligence, sensitivity, and courage to climb it. Way to go!! After watching you and Judy on the Diane Sawyer interview, I wanted to invite you both for dinner for a great evening of discussion and fun. I think you and Judy made a lot of Americans feel comfortable with the idea of inviting you into their living room.

I gotta tell you, on the subway in to work, in the elevator, and at my office, a number of strangers and colleagues brought up the Sawyer interview with me, prompted only by the Dean button I wear... and the verdict was surprisingly unanimous: Dean totally redeemed himself. Other strangers jumped in (as happens when one has a conversation on New York's subway) with comments like 'he showed he can laugh at himself,' 'I liked that he's a normal human being' and so on.

Now I've been wearing that Dean button for a few months, and this is only the second time it's ever caused conversations with strangers.

What this tells me is that a lot of people who probably had been paying little attention to politics saw Howard Dean on ABC and Letterman, and for the most part it seemed these people empathized with him and his wife.

Then I read this post this morning, and you said exactly what I was thinking: yet again, it's "Dean, Dean, Dean, Dean..." No such thing as bad publicity, right?

John,

Thanks for that vignette. I'm just dying for some real hard data/info on how many people are tuned into Dean because of the Iowa speech, how many tuned into the Sawyer event last night, Letterman, etc.

I guess we'll be in suspense for days.

Why don't you liberal clowns go ahead and post the wonderful interview Diane sawyer had with Kerry a couple days ago. It was fabulous.