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Two days after I endorsed Howard Dean, word leaks out that Al Gore will do the same. That's fantastic news for Dean, since Gore has more influence over primary voters than any other Democrat, even Bill Clinton. Though Gore didn't stand out as a VP or presidential candidate, he now reminds most Democrats of the stolen 2000 election.

Anger over 2000 resonates with Dean's criticism of Bush, forming a potent combination. With that kind of momentum, Dean will readily win the primary and have a good start heading into the general election.

Still, Dean has a massive challenge ahead of him. For an idea of what he'll have to face, look over his interview with Fox News. It's amazing how relentlessly hostile the interviewer was. Here are the first two questions he was asked.

A newspaper columnist this week called you the first Teflon-coated Democrat. You've hit some rough patches recently -- the comments about the Confederate flag, keeping your records as governor secret. But why do you think you're able to defy, so far, the laws of political gravity?
...
Governor, do you really not see a moral purpose to the president's foreign policy?

Can you imagine a major network interviewing Bush in that tone?

Numerous bloggers this week called you a miserable failure. You've hit some rough patches -- the economic downturn, the budget deficit, the chaos in Iraq. But why do you think you're able to defy, so far, the laws of political gravity?
...
Mr. President, do you really not see a moral purpose in Governor Dean's call for universal health care?

When you consider how many people watch Fox News as their main new source, it's quite scary.

posted by Julian at 9:25PM